2014 Two Shepherds Viognier "Catie's Corner" Vineyard, Russian River Valley.
Picked up during our Sonoma County adventure this weekend, and shared at Vini Wine Bar with Alan and John.
Definitely quite a bit of funk on the nose. Not really "brett" per se, but maybe a reductive nose?
The funkiness is not as dominant on the palate. I got clear Viognier character, but without the heaviness or cloying character I find too often. Plus, at the finish there was a clear blazing note of acidity that cleansed the palate.
Now, I was sipping this wine with cheese. I enjoyed this version of Viognier quite a bit because it was NOT a typical California version.
My sipping companions were less enamored. John though it tasted like unsweetened lemonade. Alan thought it didn't work well as a sipping wine; he thought it might go well with a creamy curry sauce.
So, two thumbs down and one thumb up. When we tasted it at the winery, two other friends liked it enough to purchase a bottle. And, William's wines do have bottle variation, and I accept/enjoy wines that are high in the acidity scale (to the point, perhaps, of unbalance)?
Two Shepherds reminds me a bit of a lighter, less alcoholic, and "prettier" version of Donkey and Goat. They are open on Saturdays and are located in the Bell Avenue industrial district of Windsor (near downtown).
