Two Shepherds Siletto Vineyard Grenache 2023
We have 12 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
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The Land
San Benito County is one of the least discussed serious growing regions in California, which is odd given that it sits directly on the San Andreas Fault and has limestone deposits that Chalone and Calera built entire reputations on. Siletto Family Vineyards farms inland near Hollister on sandy loam, well east of the Monterey Bay but still close enough that marine air pushes through the Pajaro gap in the afternoons. It is warm during the day and cold at night, and the sandy soils keep vigor low. Grenache planted in that combination of conditions ripens without bloating: color stays pale, alcohol stays moderate, and the aromatics stay in the red-fruit register rather than sliding into jam.
The Wine
100% Grenache Noir. Two Shepherds treats Grenache the way northern Rhone producers treat Syrah rather than the way Chateauneuf treats Grenache: whole clusters, native yeast, gentle extraction, neutral wood, and no attempt to build weight. The result is borderline rosato in color and yet fully structured, which is the trick with Grenache handled this way. Ripe strawberry, raspberry, white pepper, dried herbs, and a faint vanilla-bean note, with bright acidity and fine tannin holding it together through a dry finish. Around 12.5% alcohol. 2023 was a long, cool, late-ripening year across California following a very wet winter, with harvest running weeks behind normal and fruit coming in at lower sugars and higher acids than the preceding vintages.
The People
Two Shepherds began in 2010 when William Allen turned a home-winemaking habit into a commercial micro-winery built around Rhone varieties, at a point when California Grenache was mostly being made into something heavy. Karen Daenen came on as partner in 2015. The operation is small and hands-on: they farm their own organic Grenache and Grenache Gris block in Windsor themselves, and lease specific rows from family-owned growers elsewhere, writing the farming specs for those blocks and picking them on their own schedule. Grenache in all three colors is the core of what they do, and the Siletto bottling is among the most site-driven of them.
Food Pairing
Pale and peppery calls for lighter, herb-driven cooking. Roast chicken with tarragon, grilled lamb kebabs with mint yogurt, a mushroom and leek pasta, or a plate of manchego and marcona almonds. The wine has enough acid to handle olive oil and enough structure to stand up to grilled meat without ever getting heavy about it. Serve it at cellar temperature, 55 to 60 degrees, which is where the white pepper and strawberry both show clearly.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
This region includes wines labeled "North Coast", which are often blends including Sonoma and Napa counties. This expansive area encompasses established regions like Mendocino and Lake Counties, as well as newer vineyard sites pushing towards the Oregon border. Mendocino County is known for its varied climates, from the Anderson Valley's cool, fog-influenced areas ideal for Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, to warmer inland spots. Lake County, further inland, offers volcanic soils and a warmer climate suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties. Beyond these, even more northerly locations are being explored for their unique terroir, contributing to the evolving identity of California's northern wine production.
California - North Coast & Far North
"Unknown" farming method indicates that the specific vineyard practices used to produce the wine have not yet been clearly identified or verified. Due to limited publicly available information, complexity of research, or lack of transparency from certain wineries, it can sometimes be challenging to accurately categorize each vineyard's farming practices. Our team is actively working to research and update our records to provide the most accurate information on every wine we offer. We understand the importance of transparency and sustainability and strive to categorize and communicate farming methods as quickly and comprehensively as possible.
