Clay Shannon 2020 "The David" Lake County Red Blend

As Napa and Sonoma get warmer, many are predicting that Lake County, the county that shares Napa's northern border, will be the next "sweet spot" for California grape growing.  One of the region's wine pioneers is Clay Shannon and his Shannon Family Wines that owns over 1200 acres of vineyards in the county.  The vineyards are some of the region's highest altitude sites and all are farmed organically and sustainably.  

In 2021 Shannon Family Wines was awarded the  California Green Medal Environment Award, given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Environmental Stewardship through maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices. 

"The David" is one of the Clay Shannon's top wines, coming from the estate's highest altitude vineyards.  Some of these vineyards are so steep that they can only be hand pruned and harvested, but the hard work is worth it as the long, cool growing season ensures optimal ripeness and tannins that are huge yet refined.

Lovely, layered, complex and interesting—this David guy's got it all. Intense aromatics immediately waft out of the glass: violets, fresh cedar wood, black cherry, boysenberry, star anise and bitter cacao. Medium to full bodied, the palate offers a generous dose of acidity that perfectly cuts through the chalky tannic texture and enhances flavors with additional notes of black plum, black pepper and juniper. 

750ml