2020 Sonoma Valley Überblend by the bottle
Designed to create the very finest wine possible from the Mathis Estate Vineyard, the Überblend includes all 4 varieties grown, with an emphasis on Petite Sirah. The wine is inky black and concentrated. Fragrant and lively, the 2020 Überblend sings with aromas of dark chocolate, blackberries and pomegranate.
Texturally full-throated, with racy acidity and firm tannic grip, its inner sweetness makes for a balanced, approachable whole. This is a great example of what Petite Sirah has to offer when combined with softer, red fruited varieties such as Grenache and Carignane. A delight! Enjoy it today, or anytime in the next 20 years.
PRODUCTION NOTES
VINTAGE: 2020
APPELLATION: Sonoma Valley
VARIETAL(S):
48% Petite Sirah
33% Grenache
11% Carignane
8% Alicante Bouschet
VINEYARD: Mathis Vineyard
HARVEST: September 15, 2020
AGING: 22 months, in 60-gallon, neutral French oak barrels
ALCOHOL: 14.8%
CASES: 96
pH: 3.6
TA: 5.95 g/L
VINEYARD DESCRIPTION
Mathis Vineyard covers a 7.5 acre plot, situated in the hills above the town of Sonoma, on a warm, south-facing slope. The soils are volcanic in origin, low vigor, with underlying rhyolitic rock. The nearby San Francisco Bay, visible from the vineyard, provides a cooling influence and allows for extended hang time at harvest.
PRODUCTION NOTES
2020 was the first in a string of three extreme drought years. For the Mathis vines, like all plants in the region, Spring came eerily early,
with budbreak in February. The dry conditions and warm summer temperatures led to very small berries with concentrated flavors and high acidity.
The four varietals were harvested together on September 15th and co-fermented in a 2 ton open top tank. The cap was managed with 2 to 3 daily punch downs. The cuvee reached dryness after 10 days and was pressed off the skins 4 days later. Prior to bottling, the wine was aged with minimal intervention in neutral French oak barrels for 22 months.
The 2020 Überblend is drinking beautifully at release. The tannin contributed by the Petite Sirah, and the bright acidity of the Carignane, ensure it will continue to evolve and gain complexity well into future decades.