2005 Mathis Sonoma Valley Grenache

An offering from a previous head winemaker for Ravenswood, I picked up a couple bottles at — believe it or not — a small shop on the concourse of the Oakland International Airport. We were returning from a weekend trip to the Bay Area.  and I struck up a nice conversation with the clerk. Always a fan of Rhones, this one is a blend of Grenache (84%), Petite Sirah (11%), Carignane (4%), and Alicante Bouchet (1%).

The color is a deep raspberry and the nose is  black cherry and cranberry. The palate is a nice blend of strawberry and pomegranite with a hint of dark chocolate and black pepper. It paired well with pork loin chops off the “barbie” the first night and burgers the second. I gotta say it got better as time went on. When it comes time to open the second bottle, I will be sure to let it breathe a bit longer than this one.

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