Our Wines
Margerum White Wine Program
For our white wine program, we mainly produce Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache Rose. We some small lots of Grenache Blanc, Riesling and other special projects for our wine club. In the Fall of 2016, we will be releasing our new M5 Blanc, a white Rhône blend of five grapes - Grenache Blanc, Roussane, Marsanne, Viognier, and Rolle.
Margerum Red Wine Program
At Margerum Wine Company, we use and emphasize long-time Burgundian sensibilities in the approach to, and in the techniques used in our winemaking, including small open top fermentors, cool fermentation and low extraction. The resulting wines have elegance and an emphasis on fruit.
Syrah - is the most planted Rhône varietal in California. Its aromas are of smoke, bacon fat, black fruit and crushed rock, with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, black olive and spice, full body and substantial tannin.
Grenache - The Grenache grape is relatively low in both pigment and malic acid, and oxidizes readily. Although some 100% varietal wines are produced from Grenache, particularly in Spain's Rioja and from some "old vines" plantings in California, it is mostly used to "fill out" red blends and softens harsher partners, such as Syrah and Carignan. Used as a component in nearly all Southern Rhône red blends, Grenache is probably most notable as the base varietal for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhône and Gigondas. Margerum M5 is a Grenache based wine that is complemented with four others - Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Cinsault and is an homage to these extraordinary wine styles.
Margerum understands that Grenache is a thin skinned grape and it is most expressive in this "velvet glove in and iron fist" style. In a group tasting this wine could be overlooked but in the reality of “wine and the table” this is the wine that most satisfies, pairs with food - doesn’t dominate - and complements. This wine will not knock you over the head - it is NOT dark, it is NOT big, but it IS a supple expression of Grenache that is intellectual and compelling (if you study the wine) in its expression. Many will not "get" this wine - but the few who do will fall for it in a big way.
Mourvedre - is the latest-ripening Rhône varietal and has aromas of red fruit, chocolate, leather and earth, flavors of plum, currant and spice. Wines with Mourvèdre age gracefully to flavors of truffles and game.
Cinsaut - tends to be low in tannin, and is often added to blends to add a spicy component. It is particularly well suited to the production of rosé, and produces wines that are aromatic and fruity.
Counoise - brings bright brambly fruit, good acids, sweet spice and soft tannins to southern Rhône blends.
Barden Wine Program
BARDEN is the dream to make the ultimate expression of Santa Barbara County grapes grown in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Our access to the top vineyards along with the philosophy and knowledge I’ve gained over my thirty years in the wine business allows attempting to make world-class wines. The BARDEN brand is my middle name and its English meaning is “Lives near the boar's den” … thusly we have adorned the label with an image of the wild boar that is pervasive in the Sta. Rita Hills.
Fonte - A blend of Chardonnay Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris picked for a balance of flavor and acidity. Barrel fermented in our 55 degree winery, inoculated for malolactic fermentation and battonaged for 3 months. Aged 6 months sur-lie in 1 year old demi-muid, a neutral puncheon and a bit in stainless steel.
Chardonnay - We pick Chardonnay for opulent flavors, barrel ferment in our 55-degree winery, encourage full malolactic fermentation and it is battonaged for 4 months. Aged 10 months sur-lie in about half new French oak barriques from Quintessence and François Frères and half in neutral French oak barriques.
Pinot Noir - We hand sorted and a percentage (depending on the vintage) is whole cluster fermented, we do a 6-10 day cold soak, natural (wild) fermentation, only free-run wine used, no SO2 during maturation on full lees, bottled un-fined and unfiltered. This wine is matured for 10 months in mostly new French oak barriques from Françoise Frères and Ermitage.