MATHIS

NEW RELEASE! Intense aromas of black cherries, raspberries, and Provençal herbs are followed by wild plum and black currant notes on the palate. Crisp acidity and well-managed tannins make for a welcoming mouthfeel, and a splash of Carignane adds the character of cracked pepper to the polished finish.

PRODUCTION NOTES

Receiving only 10" of rain during the second of three consecutive drought years, the 2021 growing season was warm and dry, with one notable hot spell mid-August. These conditions led to early bud break and a small, concentrated crop at the Mathis Vineyard. Fruit for the Grenache cuvée was harvested on September 14th with the grapes in excellent condition.

The pick included small amounts of the interplanted varieties: Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and Carignane. The fruit was destemmed and left partly uncrushed to maximize fruit expression while holding tannins in check. Fermentation was in a 6-ton, open-top tank using native, grape-borne yeast, and 2 to 3 gentle pump-overs per day. Pressed at dryness after a 13-day ferment, the wine was aged in 60-gallon, neutral French oak barrels for 20 months prior to bottling.

The 2021 Grenache drinks superbly at release, with concentrated fresh fruit flavors and supple tannins. The bright acidity will allow it to age gracefully for fifteen years or more. It pairs beautifully with all types of food, from more elaborate fish dishes to rich, main dishes, including lamb stews, pork and other hearty meat and grilled vegetables.

2021 Mathis Sonoma Valley Grenache

VINTAGE: 2021

APPELLATION: Sonoma Valley 

VINEYARD: Mathis Estate Vineyard 

HARVEST: September 14, 2021

AGING: 20 months in neutral, 100% French Oak Barrels

ALCOHOL: 14.8% 

CASES: 354 

pH: 3.6

TA: 5.7 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. 

ACCOLADES

92 POINTS - Wine Enthusiast magazine, April 2025