Grouchy old wine buyers and tasters, like myself, get annoyed when tired sales phrases are overused as part of their pitch that doesn’t mean what they think it means. When I worked in Attleboro with James, we put up a whiteboard with all the offending sales phrases so we could point to it when those terms came up during salesmen’s presentations. Here are some of them to beware of.

This Chardonnay is very Burgundian.

~If it’s not from France, then it’s not Burgundy-like. Stop comparing your over-oaky, buttery Chardonnay to a Montrachet.

It’s a Baby Brunello or Baby Super Tuscan

~ Wines don’t have babies, and to compare your young Sangiovese to a wine that, by definition, is the best wine a winery can offer is unfair to the proud parent.

It’s a declassified Grand Cru

~Why would a winery declassify a wine to get half the price of their allocated top wine? Let’s be honest, it is more likely the wine came from excess juice from outside of the regulated classified domain.

The wine tastes like that because the vintage is a classic style.

~ Means the wine is closed and rough, just like the wine was made twenty years ago, and we are still waiting for it to come around in our cellars.

Those are just some of the tired sales pitches we hear that give us the cringe. One that is starting to bug me is:

The wine is sustainably farmed. Considering that grapevines grow for more than 30 years, who wouldn’t want to take care of their money-making vines to continue to make money year after year so all grapevine growing is sustainable. It would be like saying, “Here is my prize, Angus beef steer; he’s looking a little skinny because we are trying to save money, but it will be worth it in the final product.” It’s not like planting corn, with a new planting every year. Sustainable by itself means nothing, but it’s meant to imply that the vineyards are on their way to being certified organic or biodynamic. And because the term has been bandied around so much, there are specific organizations that will certify a wine as a Sustainable Vineyard, such as CCSW (Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery) and SIP Certified (Sustainability in Practice) and a few more regional certifications. But most of the salespeople promoting their wines as following sustainable practices are not certified as such, which leads one to wonder what the heck they are talking about. The general definition of sustainable vineyard growing practices is “Mitigation and reduction of wastefulness in winemaking.” Well, that’s a broad barn door in itself. But there is one winery that takes sustainability as a concept to generate income and create healthy vines. A win-win situation for the owners, the vines, and the sheep. Let me introduce you to Shannon Ridge Vineyards.

In 1995, Clay Shannon discovered a magnificent piece of property in the hills overlooking Clear Lake in Lake County, thirty-five miles north of Napa’s famed vineyards. Before that, he owned a vineyard management company, growing grapes for some of the top wineries and fruit companies in Northern California. Clay has always been a bit of a maverick. In his new project, he quickly set out to develop vineyards, his way; Clay’s vision was simple: “We wanted to grow the best fruit in the world,” says Clay, “but we wanted to do it in a way that made us happy living there.” Clay Shannon has transformed his ranch into one of the agricultural icons of California’s North Coast, and in doing so, is changing the face and substance of grape-growing in the USA wine growing industry.

Shannon Ridge, Family of Wines, is committed to preserving the land, not only for the great vineyard sites but also for the bears, elk, mountain lions, eagles, and other creatures that live there. The vineyards are located on the ridges of ancient volcanic soil at higher elevations (at an elevation of 2,200 feet above sea level); of the approximately 2,300 acres, only about 1300 acres have been converted to vineyards. Wildlife corridors have been preserved for the abundant wildlife which can be seen wandering through the property. This wild, challenging terrain captured Shannon’s imagination and inspired his uncompromising commitment to the land itself. “We wanted to grow the best fruit possible,” says Clay, “but we wanted to do it in a way that made us happy living there.”

Because Clay and his family were such good stewards of the land, the decision to farm organically came naturally. The winery uses organic farming practices, including introducing friendly insects, bats, and predatory hawks and owls to control pests. Vineyards are farmed, Certified Organic, and Certified Sustainable. Located on the ridges of ancient volcanic soil, Shannon Ridge vineyards are California’s most northern vineyards, steepest and highest elevations vineyards in the state. High-elevation vineyards create intense wines with loads of color and bright acidity with grippy tannins. They are also sheep ranchers with 1500 head of sheep that live in the vineyards and help manage the steep slope farming.

The key to converting a one-thousand-acre mountain vineyard that’s been conventionally farmed and converting it to all-organic farming takes is sheep. Many sheep. The project is called OVIS (Latin for sheep) and pays homage to the flock of sheep that help control the cover crops and weeds in the vineyards. The sheep and the dedicated Great Pyrenees guard dogs are the foundation of Shannon’s sustainable farming practices. 

First, Shannon Ridge stopped using conventional herbicides for weed control, the ones many vineyards use cause cancer. Then they turned to sheep, lots of them. Under the protection of the dogs, Shannon’s flock of over 1,200 sheep pick their way through the vineyards, eating leaves, suckers, and excess foliage from the grapevines. As a result, they produce natural fertilizer, enriching the soil. By controlling weeds and cover crops, the sheep also provide natural protection from wildfires. Sheep are doing mowing, cultivation, weeding, herbicide work, some canopy work, and they leave sheep-powered organic fertilizer on the ground.

They run through the vineyard in groups, ten or fifteen acres at a time, and rotate. They move through blocks in groups of 300 to 400 with herders with their dogs that keep them moving so as not to stop and completely devour a vine. They will eat grapes if they have sugar, so viticulturists raise the fruit zone to get it out of their way. The sheep run in the vineyard after harvest up to budbreak. Then they leave the vineyard until green, pea-sized berries develop. Then, they return to the vineyard for a month or so prior to veraison (ripe grapes). After harvest, sheep return to further sanitize the vineyard by consuming the remaining fruit and winter annuals. 

As part of the sustainable philosophy at Shannon Ridge, livestock guardian dogs live within the flock 24 hours a day, protecting the sheep from predators. Coyotes, bears, and cougars are ushered from the vineyard and the surrounding wild areas without harm. Border Collies are used daily to assist shepherds in the movement and management of the flock.

“We’re cultivating and nurturing a way of life that reduces our need for fossil fuels and herbicides,” says Shannon, “and produces amazing grass-fed lamb and wool products for local businesses as far as Sacramento and San Francisco. The vineyards feed the sheep, the sheep feed the vines, lamb feeds the people, people drink the wine and wear wool.” This cyclical farming system brings a new vitality to the land for future generations to enjoy. This is beyond sustainable practices.

The grapes for this wine were harvested from High Valley and the Red Hills appellations in Lake County. The wine is complex, balanced, and full-bodied with bold but refined tannins. It is aged in 100% French Oak for 16 months, which is difficult to find at this price point. A tremendous value Cabernet! The smooth, fruit-forward palate exudes flavors of blackberry, plum, cranberry, pepper, allspice, toasted oak, and vanilla. Give it a try with burgers or lamb kabobs.

Clusters from High Valley deliver bright red fruit and tannin, fruit from Red Hills contributes lush, ripe fruit character, and our Big Valley grapes add complexity and texture to our Cabernet Sauvignon.

Decadent blackberry and dried cranberry flavors with notes of pepper and allspice lead to a lengthy, satisfying finish marked by hints of cedar and toasted oak.

The wine has just been released, and as of yet, there are no reviews. It has consistently received 90+ reviews and the reviews on the 2021:

This medium-bodied wine offers nicely fresh and focused black-cherry and blackberry flavors wrapped in light tannins. It’s light for a Cabernet, and easy to like. Wine Enthusiast 93 pts

The Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon is intense and persistent on the palate. This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of concentrated blackberries. Wine.com 91 pts

Shannon Ridge High Elevation Cabernet 2022

I slipped this wine into a tasting we had with CA Cabernets that cost twice as much as the Shannon High Elevation Cabernet. I must say it did very well competing with its overpriced competition. The wine poured a dark, inky, ruby-red color and aromas of mint and pomegranate. The palate had dry, fine tannins with cranberry, tea, and sweet tobacco flavors. A long cherry finish was balanced by good acid to keep the fruit alive. You will not find a better under $10 estate bottled Cabernet that is Certified Sustainable, Certified Organic, and Certified Vegan. That and it tasted good. In my opinion, it is far superior to most of our $12 Cabernets.

Regular Price: $13.99

*Sale Price is on 12 or more bottle purchase

 Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case

*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.

We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

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Cheers!

John Hannum,

Fine & Rare Wine Specialist

Attleboro

628 Washington St.

Norwood

942 Providence Hgwy.

Sturbridge

376 Main Street.

Swansea

207 Swansea Mall Dr.

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