MATHIS

96 POINTS, DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT 2023 NORTH COAST WINE CHALLENGE   |  The estate grown 2019 Grenache shows balance and elegance, with the vibrant sweet/tart fruit characters of perfectly ripe Bing cherries and blackberries, and a hint of juniper in the finish. Aromas include bramble, white pepper and baking spices. Subtle tannins are just elevated to make the wine pair well with a wide variety of foods, from a light salmon and vegetable grill, to a savory lamb stew.

MORE ACCOLADES

92 POINTS, WINE ENTHUSIAST - "This well-concentrated wine made with native yeast and aged in neutral barrels offers buoyant strawberry and red-plum flavors backed by light tannins and a good, smoky, black-peppery undertone. It is complex, full bodied and ready to enjoy through 2028." –Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, May 2023

BEST IN CLASS & DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

GOLD MEDAL at the International Competition Grenache du Monde, receiving the highest award of any American grenache in the competition among 800 entries.

"Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of strawberry jam and mulling spices. In the mouth, flavors of strawberry jam and dried herbs are wrapped in fleecy tannins. There’s a lovely aromatic sweetness here, and enough acidity to keep things fresh, but this is definitely richer, higher octane Grenache, with hints of raisins in the finish." –Alder Yarrow, Vinography, August 2023  

PRODUCTION NOTES

Copious Spring rains led to healthy growth and near perfect vine balance in 2019. The absence of extreme heat events allowed for extended hang time and optimal maturity without loss of acidity.

Harvests for the Grenache cuvees were on September 24th and 25th, and included small amounts of the interplanted varieties, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and Carignane. The fruit was destemmed, then left uncrushed to maximize fruit expression while holding tannins in check. Fermentation was in 5-ton open top tanks using native, grape born yeast and 2 to 3 gentle pump-overs per day. Pressed at dryness after a 12-day ferment, the wine was aged in 60-gallon neutral French oak barrels for 19 months prior to bottling.

The 2019 Grenache drinks superbly at release, with a finesse, concentration and balance that make it one of my all time favorite releases. The acidity and structure should allow it to age gracefully for years to come.

2019 Mathis Sonoma Valley Grenache

VINTAGE: 2019

APPELLATION: Sonoma Valley 

VINEYARD: Mathis Estate Vineyard 

HARVEST: September 24-25, 2019

AGING: 19 months in neutral, 100% French Oak Barrels

ALCOHOL: 14.8% 

CASES: 490 

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.