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Two Shepherds 2017 Testa Vineyard Mendocino Carignan

Two Shepherds 2017 Testa Vineyard Mendocino Carignan

These wines tasted real.
Terroirist
dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
These wines tasted real.
Terroirist

Mission Codename Sheep thrill

LOCKER STOCKER!! Trust your Agents of Wine and take a flyer on at least a handful of these. We will never lead you astray, and this has all the potential to be your new favorite house red - especially at our 40% OFF price of $18!

“What most impressed me about Two Shepherds wines was their authenticity. These wines tasted real – there wasn’t a hint of expensive oak or manipulated fruit.” - David White, Terroirist

Authenticity. Real. These are big and rare words.

Single vineyard. Old vines. Lower alcohol. Huge YUM factor. All that for eighteen bucks?!

How on earth?

Two Shepherds is a “garagiste” winery you probably haven’t heard of. According to a San Francisco Chronicle feature “William Allen started Two Shepherds in his garage, and he’s still working in a garage of sorts. The tiny warehouse winery, located in a former TV studio in an industrial section of Windsor, remains a side project for Allen and his partner Karen Daenen, who both still have full-time jobs - he in tech sales, she in consumer research for Jackson Family Wines. The winery is a true passion project in every sense of the word, and it’s apparent from the moment you enter. That passion is for Rhône-style wines… “People ask us, ‘Where’s your big red?’ And I tell them it’s a 12.3% Carignan!” Allen says.”

Thus, Two Shepherds have mainly managed to stay under the radar, found mostly on local fine wine lists and a few select establishments across the country. Affordable from the get-go, finding ‘deals’ on these is a rare phenomenon. Until today, with this WELL-PRICED deliciousness…

A shy yet deep and bright, translucent ruby beauty exudes an exotic perfume of cherries, cranberries, a kiss of sunbaked earth, and baking spices. In the mouth, it’s as juicy as can be, striking that deft balance between a natural red, and an easygoing fruit bomb. Layers of complexity sneak in with the long finish, taking the palate to Old World sensibilities with a potpourri of lavender blossoms and dried herbs. With a fine cheese and charcuterie platter, add some nuts and dried fruits too, this will sing till gone.

Let’s sum it up with The Alcohol Professor who puts it best: “The winery’s goal is to create wines that are vinified in the traditional style, using natural yeasts, neutral aging vessels, and most of all, that evoke a sense of place. In staying with the French aesthetic, Allen’s wines are crafted with higher acid levels that lend toward food pairings and induce mouth-watering. However, all of these wines can easily be enjoyed on their own…”

Just 6 barrels were made, to begin with, and less than half remained after their mailing list hoarded this stash, so apologies when no more…

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What the Winery Says 2017 Testa Vineyard Mendocino Carignan

Two Shepherds
Two Shepherds
Winemaker
William Allen
Varietal
100% Carignan
Vintage
2017
Alcohol
12.4%
Appellation
Mendocino County
Vineyard
Testa Vineyard
Total acidity
6.7 g/l.
pH
3.5
SO2
25 ppm
Fermentation
50% whole cluster
Aging
10 months
Barrels
100% neutral French oak
Production
6 barrels

About the Winery Two Shepherds

Two Shepherds Winemaker William Allen
Two Shepherds Winemaker William Allen
Two Shepherds 2017 Testa Vineyard Mendocino Carignan 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Dec 29, 2023 at 11:59 pm
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Two Shepherds 2017 Testa Vineyard Mendocino Carignan 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Dec 29, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Register to get notified when this wine is back in stock:
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