Shatter Grenache – Audacious

100% Grenache from Maury, Languedoc-Roussillon, France.

SRP of $30 and available for as low as $24 (Saturday Splurge). Sample received courtesy Trinchero Family Estates for review purposes.

From the winemaker:

“Shatter, Dave Phinney and Joel Gott’s first collaborative effort, comes from the small town of Maury in the Roussillon region of France. The hillside Grenache vines were planted over 60 years ago in black schist, a slate-like, rocky soil common to the area. Though nutrient-poor, it retains heat well, allowing the slow-ripening Grenache to reach full maturity through cool nights. Tough soil, strong winds and hot days push the vines and cause Shatter, or Coulure, in the grape clusters, naturally thinning fruit from the vines and producing more intensely concentrated flavors. After harvest, the fruit was cold-soaked for 30 days to help further concentrate the wine, then fermented and aged at Dave’s winery in Maury.

15.0% Alcohol”

Shatter, as you can see from the info above, is a condition that naturally thins fruit from grapevines due to extreme conditions. While on the surface this may seem like a bad thing, as we’ve discussed before these extreme conditions are actually quite beneficial for producing extremely flavor concentrated grapes — just not that many of them.

This wine also comes from the partnership of Dave Phinney and Joel Gott, two names you might be familiar with from wines such as Orin Swift The Prisoner and The Show series of wines. Certainly a good pedigree, but can the wine live up to expectations? Let’s find out.

The 2010 Dave Phinney – Joel Gott Shatter Grenache begins with expressive aromas of ripe dark fruit (mostly blackberry and blueberry) along with lavender, spice and a little vanilla. A truly excellent bouquet. Tasting the wine reveals a bold, fruit forward Grenache with succulent blackberry flavors dominating; however, this is no one trick pony. There are also big (but smooth) tannins, lots of oaky spice, an excellent lush mouthfeel and a super long dry finish. This wine is quite fun to drink as it reveals more nuances as it has some time in the glass. More than a bold statement, this wine is audaciously good.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.