Peter Mathis, owner and winemaker was the head winemaker at Ravenswood. The 2005 Grenache is his second vintage under his own label. He has always been intrigued by Rhone varietals, especially Grenache, and decided to plant in the Sonoma Valley in 1999.
Body: medium
Color: garnet red
Aromas: juicy blackberry, ripe black cherries, and dried cranberries. Flavors of strawberry and pomegranate.
Case production: 820 cases
From their website: Aromas of ripe black cherries, dried cranberries and licorice, with pomegranate, blackberry, straw
berries and a hint of black pepper in the mouth. For peak aromatic intensity - allow the ‘05 Grenache some breathing time. The tannins are silky smooth and round with sweet viscosity throughout, and just enough backbone (from the Petite) and acidity (from the Carignane) to make it an ideal accompaniment to food. The wine should continue to put on weight and add fruit complexity for 4 to 5 years, and should hold up well in to the latter part of the next decade. A sign that really indicates that Peter is his own boss, are his special corks that are stamped with the say
ing, “I GROW IT - I MAKE IT.” Definitely a collector’s item.Peter has 7 acres of vines on Mountain Avenue in Sonoma Valley. Low vigor volcanic soils with underlying basalt and rhyolite. The vines are influenced by the San Francisco Bay.His 2005 vintage has 4% Carignane, 11% Petite Sirah and 1% Alicante Bouchet in its blend; and it is all grown on the same property.
Eat with: duck confit, organic escarole, rice beans, applewood bacon, roasted garlic purée & herbed olive oil
Website: http://www.mathiswine.com
