Two Shepherds, 2010 Grenache Blanc, Saarloos Vineyard

Sometimes folks just talk and talk and talk about what they are doing but than you never get to see the results.  And than sometimes you get to watch someone with so much passion and attention to detail knock it out of the park. I think this would sum up William Allen, wine aficionado, blogger, hedonist,Rhône lover and nice guy!

This is Two Shephards' first vintage of Grenache Blanc, from the Saarloos Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley. To preserve the wine's natural acidity and freshness while adding body and texture, it was fermented and aged in neutral French oak for eight months on the lees. 

“The nose leads with aromas of white peach, citrus and candied lemon with nutty undertones, followed by a creamy, round palate with a nice beam of acidity running through. With air, aromas and flavors of green melon and honeysuckle emerge, and a pleasing wet stone minerality accents the finish. Alcohol was kept at a moderate 13.9% abv – impressive! “  K&L Wine

Another review reveals; "Nose of Asian spice, kiwi fruit, limestone, lemon zest, and pear. Good intensity and a complex set of flavors create an expressive, vibrant bouquet. The palate opens with a burst of lively acid that gives way to a balanced mid-palate of ruby grapefruit, tangerine, limestone, and peppery spice. Great flavor integration that will only get better with time had me thinking this wine will last 5-7 years." Beaus Barrel Room Blog


Wine blogger turned winemaker William Allen felt "so strongly about a movement back to wines of balance, elegance, and modest alcohol," he writes on his blog www.simplehedonisms.com in the fall of 2011, "that after several years of pontification I...put my money (all of it) where my mouth is and started a new micro label (<300 cases) called Two Shepherds."

Not sure how long it is going to last, but we have been pouring it by the glass. It will be exciting to see what the next harvest brings Two Shepherds.

Grenache blanc is a variety of white wine grape that is related to the red grape Grenache. It is mostly found in Rhône wine blends and in northeast Spain. Its wines are characterized by high alcohol and low acidity, with citrus and or herbaceous notes. Its vigor can lead to overproduction and flabbiness. However, if yields are controlled, it can contribute flavor and length to blends, particularly with Roussanne. Since the 1980s, it has been the fifth most widely planted white wine grape in France after Ugni blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon blanc.

Grenache blanc responds best to low fermentation temperatures which produces a fresh, dill scented wine in its youth. The grape is fairly flexible in winemaking and can be exposed to malolactic fermentation, extended skin maceration, lees stirring as well as oak aging.(wiki)







In Santa Ynez; the Saarloos Vineyard painted by artist Richard Rice.
http://richardricefineart.com/works/763666/saarloos-vineyard-14x18

Margerum 2006 M5, Santa Ynez Valley

Doug Margerum (right), one of the early pioneers of the Santa Barbara wine scene in the 1980’s, was also a restaurateur, with his well known and very popular Wine Cask restaurant. So he, above all knows the importance of the balance a wine must have to be able to compliment and enhance the dining experience.

M5 is a Chateauneuf-du-Pape style blend using five grape varieties from twelve of the highest quality vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

Is it a Varietal Blend or a Vineyard Blend - OR BOTH?
50% Syrah -  (24% Alisos Vineyard, 24% Vogelzang Vineyard, 15% Great Oak Ranch Vineyard, 20% Black Oak Vineyard, 7% Alondra de los Prados Vineyard, 7% Purisima Mountain Vineyard, and 3% Colson Canyon Vineyard)
26% Grenache - (58% Zaca Mesa Vineyard, 15% Vogelzang Vineyard, 10% Purisima Mountain Vineyard, 11% Crossroads Vineyard and 5% Watch Hill Vineyard)
9% Mouvedre - (78% Zaca Mesa Vineyard and 22% Vogelzang Vineyard)
4% Counoise- (Stolpman Vineyard)
4% Cinsault- (Stolpman Vineyard)

Case Production: 2,200 cases

This carefully crafted blend brings together the black, deep licorice richness of syrah and melds it with the bright raspberry-cherry flavors of the Grenache. The mouvedre, counoise and cinsault add bright acidity, tannins and aromatic notes of spice and fruit. The result is a full bodied yet delightfully well balanced and lively blend.

Regarded as one of California’s top producers of Rhone style wines, Doug and his winemaker Doug Scott are masters at sourcing out the best fruit from some of the region’s most renowned growers. Names such as Volgang, Purisima Mountain, Alisos and Colson Canyon are a few of vineyards chosen by these two talented vinters to make their wine.

"The M5 mission statement: M5 is a wine that is from a thought - a blend that is an amalgamation of memories, both distant and recent, of wines I've tasted and loved the past thirty-three years.  As always, this multi-vineyard, multi-varietal cuvee illustrates the benefits inherent in a blended wine." 

From the Winelover's Page
"In Santa Barbara County winemaking circles, Doug Margerum is nearly legendary.  ... While running the Wine Cask complex, he also made wine under the tutelage of and with Jim Clendenen (ABC), Bob Lindquist (Qupe), Fred Brander (Brander) and others. Many of these wines were Wine Cask labeled bottlings to serve as house wines for the restaurant; others were made under the MWC label and sold at retail. When Margerum left the restaurant business behind, he had plenty of winemaking experience and was finally able to devote his full time and attention to winemaking at Margerum Wine Company, where he focuses on Rhone style red wines and eclectic whites, assisted by production winemaker, Doug "Scotty" Scott....  ... Sweet ripe fruit, both red (raspberry and cherry) and black, combine for a bombastic, high tempered, full bodied red wine in a Chateauneuf du Pape style that, like I said, will kick out the jams and give you immediate flavor gratification.

5 STARS - From Steve Tanzer of San Francisco, California on 9/17/2008.
Medium, bright-rimmed red. Sexy raspberry and white pepper on the nose, with a subtle anise quality adding complexity. Bright raspberry and cherry flavors offer impressive depth and urgency, fleshing out with air but maintaining verve. There's an impressive delicacy and understatement here that reminded me of pinot noir. It should be noted that Margerum's winery boasts an impressive set of racks filled with some of the greatest Burgundies and Rhones-and even some Bordeaux too.

A popular wine at the girl and the fig, it is a perfect compliment to any meat dish such as our butcher steak or roast lamb but is delicate enough to pair with our quiche or duck confit.

2006 Zaca Mesa Roussanne, Santa Ynez Valley

From their website: Roussanne is a richly complex, white grape variety indigenous to the Rhône Valley of France. It is a difficult grape to grow because it is very susceptible to rot and mildew and ripens late.

After being hand harvested, this Roussanne was gently pressed and placed in French oak barrels to ferment. The wine was then aged “sur lie” or on the lees (yeast and solids) for 10 months, stirring each barrel regularly to enhance the rich, creamy mouth feel. Zaca Mesa Vineyards BLOCK: Foxen C

Aromas: apricots, figs, honey, spice
Body: medium
Color: yellow

There are only 200 acres of Roussanne planted in California and Zaca Mesa owns 8 of them.

Tasting Notes: On the nose, aromas of apricots, figs, honey and spice fill the glass. Alingering finish has a touch of minerality, a signature characteristic of our vineyard. Enjoy with grilled halibut, lobster risotto or rosemary roasted chicken over the next five years. — Clay Brock, Winemaker

Eat with: sautéed Pacific rock cod, fennel purée, baby summer squash, niçoise olives, garlic confit & sundried tomato vinaigrette