Mataro is the same name as Mourvedre in California and parts of Australia. It is located in Contra Costa County, adjacent to the east of San Pablo Bay, and is often thought of as a hot area, but the cool winds from San Pablo Bay blow in under the influence of Mount Diablo, mitigating the heat. Phylloxera cannot survive in the deep sandy soil, which is 12m below the surface, and the grapes grow on their own roots without the use of rootstocks. The sandy fields retain the warmth of the day, so although this is a slow-ripening variety, it ripens early in this field, and the coolness of the nights retains the acidity. Many producers make this variety large, concentrated, and dark, but this wine is gentle, mild, easy to drink, complex, and elegant. Production volume: Approximately 115 cases/year, 25% new oak.
Mataro is the name used in California and parts of Australia (the same variety as Mourvedre, which is mainly produced in southern France and Spain), and was widely grown as one of the blends in the 1870s, but is now mostly grown in small quantities as Mourvedre.
Because the skin is thick, it produces wines with a strong astringency and a concentrated feel, but it takes a very long time to ripen.
There are few producers who make wine from a single variety, so Ridge makes wine from several vineyards and releases it under the name MATARO.
Technical information
Production volume: Approximately 352 cases per year
Brewing: Fermentation in open redwood barrels used in the 1980s (soft finish), natural yeast fermentation, all by hand, aged in French barrels (25% new barrels)
Comment from Joel Peterson
The average temperature in this field during the growing season is 24°C, but drops to 15°C at night and rises to 32°C during the day. The sandy soil retains the daytime warmth, so although this is a slow-ripening variety, it ripens early in this field, and the cool nights help maintain the acidity.
Many producers make this variety into a large-sized, concentrated, rich wine, but I take full advantage of the characteristics of this vineyard - its own roots, old vines over 100 years old, deep sandy soil, and the cold winds that blow in the afternoon - to create a gentle, mild, easy-to-drink wine with complexity and elegance.
The 2018 vintage is full of ripe raspberries and plums with hints of smoke, earth and spice, soft tannins and concentrated umami, bringing out the goodness of Mataro.
Field Information
Deep sandy field
Oakley Road Vineyards
It is located in Contra Costa County, adjacent to the eastern edge of San Pablo Bay, south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and east of Mount Diablo.
Although it is often thought of as a hot area, the cool breezes from San Pablo Bay blow in off Mount Diablo, mitigating the heat.
Due to the deep sandy soil, 12m below the surface, phylloxera cannot survive, and the plant grows on its own roots without using rootstocks. Currently, it is a residential city near San Francisco, and land is being bought up in preparation for the expansion of large power facilities and the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART).
In other words, the number of vineyards is decreasing, and vineyards of old vines of minor varieties other than Chardonnay and Cabernet are becoming very few and rare.
Vintage: 2018
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Full-bodied
Main variety: Mataro (Mourvedre)
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Contra Costa County
Vineyard: Oakley Road Vineyard
Note: Limited stock of vinous 93P
Winemaker: Joel Peterson
Rating: 90P or above
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 14.9%