Shatter Grenache 2018
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The 2018 Shatter Grenache is a collaboration with Joel Gott and Charles Bieler, Shatter is an obsession with Grenache and terroir. Inky black in color. Flavors and aromas dominated by black current, spice and cured meats with a touch of coffee from low toast barrels. There’s an underlying minerality throughout with the distinct ferrous quality that schist delivers. The palate is pure and powerful, but has structure and a backbone, that holds it all together.
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The Somm Journal
In the hot, windy valley of Maury in Roussillon just across from Catalonia, grapes struggle in rocky black schist. This wine is named for the trials they endure; “shatter” is the term for their failure to fully mature, which causes the fruit to thin and leaves smaller clusters with greater intensity of flavor. The result, a collaboration between Joel Gott and Charles Bieler, is a sturdy red that persists. Following an expressive nose of sweet tobacco, wild strawberry, clove, and red tea, rhubarb, vanilla, and spice grace the palate as white pepper weaves through cherry cedar and briar.
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Maury, in the Roussillon region of France, is home to our hillside Grenache vines, planted more than 60 years ago. Nutrient-poor soil, strong winds and scorching heat stress the vines and cause shatter in the grape clusters. Shatter naturally thins the vines, leaving smaller clusters of intensely concentrated grapes. That flavorful fruit translates to rich, decadent wine in the glass.
Joel Gott was introduced to this extraordinary region by friend and fellow winemaker, Dave Phinney. Joel has been crafting wine under his namesake label, Joel Gott wines, for 20 years, and he has partnered on cutting edge projects, the three thieves and the show. In each case, there are 3 distinct labels that feature up-close images of the unique black schist soil of Maury. Shatter, is a refined, well-structured Grenache with succulent dark fruit notes, balanced by the soft, subtle influence of French oak. A Grenache that could only be made from the shattered vines of Maury.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
A northern point in France’s far southern Roussillon region, Maury is dominated by steep limestone cliffs and the castle of Queribus, which the French used as a defense outpost against the Spanish until 1659. Today it remains an important symbol of the presence of both cultures in the region.
Though Maury is famous for vins doux naturels (a style of fortified wine), Maury dry red wines are quickly becoming more in vogue and received their own appellation designation in 2011, called Maury Sec. As is the case in most of Roussillon, Grenache plays a key role here. The region’s schist-dominant vineyards, which climb up to 1,300 feet, are excellent for the production of Grenache of all styles.
For Maury dry red wines, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Syrah act as blending partners with Granche Noir. In the production of vins doux naturels, Grenache Gris and Blanc play a subsidiary role. The latter are characterized using the same terminology as that in Riveslates with those named as grenat or tuilé based on Grenache Noir and those described as ambré or blanc containing more Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris.