2013 Two Shepherds Marsanne/Roussane David Girard Vineyard

Region: El Dorado County < California
Grapes: Marsanne/Roussane
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic farming; granite soils; macerated on skins for 6 hours, then 8 months neutral barrel, 5 months on the less, and 2.5 years in bottle before release; bottled unfined/unfiltered with no added SO2; 12.4% ABV; 87 cases made
Winemaker: William Allen

William Allen slings software by day, but his heart is in the Rhône. He was making wine in his garage and blogging about it for years before going pro with Two Shepherds, his one man micro-winery. He works from purchased grapes, careful about organic, and models his wines on the Rhône styles he loves, making tiny lots of old world, low-intervention bottlings from cool climate sites. Like this skin-fermented Roussane/Marsanne blend from a certified organic vineyard on weathered granite soils in the heart of Gold Country. William lets these white grapes macerate on their skins for 6 hours, giving the wine texture, a kiss of tannin and a glowing golden hue. Then, to let any weirdness settle, he gives the wine around 3.5 years between old barrel and bottle before releasing. Now the wine is perfect – soft, peachy and savory, with golden apple, bright acid and a savory, salty finish. Such a great food wine – perfect for the Thanksgiving table, playing nicely with all sorts of random dishes and flavors.