1st Place Award: Sauvignon Blanc

M2 Vintners
Layne Montgomery and Chris Matheny

Featured in the June, 2003 issue of Wine Spectator

M2 Vintners was founded to craft small-lot premium California wines, utilizing professional methods and techniques. M2's vision is to create wines "at home" that equal and exceed the finest commercial offerings.

2001 Syrah
Lock Vineyard, Paso Robles. Steve and Pam Lock's hillside vineyard is southwest of Paso Robles, twelve miles from the cold and salty brine. Planted to the Chapoutier clone, the south block was fanatically shoot-thinned in the spring and the block yielded a mere two tons per acre at harvest. The wine is very big, as is expected of Syrah, but it's complex as well, showing great "terroir" along with aromas of bacon and dried meat, dancing with huge blackberry and plum fruit. The tannins are moderate to light; the acid balanced, the late palate and finish full and long. The wine was barrel aged in a combination of new and used French and American oak.

2002 Late Harvest Orange Muscat
The Diamants d'Or, we like to think Diamonds of Gold, is our second Orange Muscat dessert wine. Our first vintage won two gold medals in competitions, and we think the 2002 is better. This wine pairs nicely with fruit shortcakes or tarts. It also tastes really good on its own. Cold-fermented for several weeks, the wine has aromas of orange blossoms, honey and apricot. About ten% Viognier was blended into the wine for added complexity.

2000 Cabernet Sauvignon//Syrah Blend
This 2000 version of M2 Vintners' signature wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah with a modicum of Carignane. The grapes came from the SP3 Vineyard in El Dorado County, a secret mountaintop location, heavily guarded by Basset Attack Hounds. The Carignane was from 80 year old vines. Each variety was vinified separately then blended before barreling. The wine spent seven months in a new Seguin-Moreau heavy toasted American oak barrel. The wine is medium-bodied and well balanced showing nice fruit tones of berries and black cherries. There's a nice streak of "terroir" showing through the aromas of vanilla, caramel and toast. It is very easy to drink and goes well with a wide range of mild to medium seasoned foods.

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