Once & Future Wine, Contra Costa County (California) Mataro 2021

 Joel Peterson is once again making Zinfandel and Mataro from a favorite vineyard he relied upon during his years with Ravenswood.  At Oakley Road, the Mataro (also known as Mourvèdre) vines  are at least 120 years old.  These ancient head-pruned vines are own-rooted in the sandy soils that define Contra Costa.  Harvested in mid-August of  2022, the grapes were crushed and wild yeast fermented in open top containers.  Eventually, the wine was aged in small oak, 25% new.  This is a deep, dark brooding wine that opens with aeration to reveal rich ripe dark berry along with black olive and sage.  While big and rich on the palate, it captures plenty of the old vine velvet supple texture with a floral note in the finish.  But overall it is more savory than flashy.  It has tannins but kept in check by the strong berry flavors and solid structure.  125 cases made.