Peter Mathis Grenache 2016
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The 2016 Sonoma Valley estate Grenache is an easy-to-love expression of the classic Mathis wine. The aromas of white pepper and strawberry jam are followed by intense Framboise liqueur flavors and an explosion of ripe red fruits. Structurally soft and approachable right out of the gate, the 2016 vintage has just the right amount of chalky tannins to ensure it’s a great food pairing wine.
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Thick, reductive and tannic in intensity, this bold, flavorful wine is dense in black cherry, violet and lavender, with toasted oak and meaty garrigue in the background. It is blended with small amounts of Petite Sirah, Carignane and Alicante Bouschet, which contribute additional complexity and peppery seasoning
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2017-
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Peter Mathis was happily making furniture in Western Massachusetts 25 years ago when he went off the deep end for wine, his creative juices were overflowing to the point where he knew a career change was inevitable.
By 1990 Peter Mathis had an old school bus packed up and headed west, landing at Ravenswood Winery, where he's worked ever since, first in winemaking and more recently as GM. The wines of the south of France were his true love when he first got interested in the red stuff, and it ultimately became his life's mission to capture the laughably delicious aspect of these Grenache based wines in California.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
Perhaps the most historically significant appellation in Sonoma County, the Sonoma Valley is home to both Buena Vista winery, California's oldest commercial winery, and Gundlach Bundschu winery, California's oldest family-run winery.
It is also one of the more geologically and climactically diverse districts. The valley includes and overlaps four distinct Sonoma County sub-appellations, including Carneros, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Valley. With mountains, benchlands, plains, abundant sunshine and the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific, this appellation can successfully produce a wide range of grape varieties. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, and most notably, Zinfandel all thrive here. Ancient Zinfandel vines over 100 years old produce small crops of concentrated, spicy fruit, which in turn make some of the Valley's most unique wines. These can also be made as “field blends” (wines made from a mix of grape varieties grown in the same vineyard) along with Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet.