Shatter is a Grenache from Maury in the Roussillon region of France and is the love child of Dave Phinney (Orin Swift – The Prisoner) and Joel Gott (Joel Gott Wines) and is imported by Trinchero Family Estates.
These grapes are grown in a slate like rocky soil called black schist that is nutrient poor but retains heat well, allowing the grapes to reach full maturity while experiencing cool nights.
Strong winds and hot days cause shatter in the grape clusters, naturally thinning the fruit from the vines, producing intensely concentrated flavors.
Here is a video of Dave & Joel sharing how this venture came to be:
I loved this wine upon first sip. I found it quite intense in color and flavor with dark berry and cherry leading to soft tannins and a luscious lingering finish. The longer this sat in the glass the more time it had to reveal its complexity and boldness. French wine made by California winemakers….A match made in heaven. Delicious – Buy some!
Once I heard of the Dave-Joel-Trinchero connection I knew why I loved it! You’ve heard of 6 degrees of separation….well I have somewhat of a 3 degrees of separation story about these guys so here it is.
A couple of years ago I attended a small trade tasting featuring Joel Gott wines and Joel himself was there. As this was a rather small event pretty much everyone got (Gott – haha) one on one time to pick his brain. As I was gushing about my love of St. Helena, California and Taylor’s Refresher which is now called Gott’s Roadside (his family owned burger joint), Joel was giving me dining recommendations for our next visit.
I was fat fingering them into my phone as fast as I could and screwing it up royally. I became quite flustered and broke out into a sweat. Joel being the lovely human being he is, took pity on me and offered to put them into my phone. JOEL TOUCHED MY PHONE – HE TYPED INTO MY PHONE!! It may not seem like a big deal to you guys but I was beside myself!! I did manage to act cool about it – until Hubby and I got in the car and THAT WAS ALL I TALKED ABOUT. I am not one to be star struck but I am definitely Wine Struck. I eat, breathe, and DRINK wine. Any event that showcases a winemaker – I’m there! Call me a Wine Groupie, Wino, Lush – I don’t care – I just love everything there is about wine. Walking through a vineyard and visiting the vines and touching the grapes speaks to me in a way I just can’t explain. It’s in my blood and part of my soul…..
So now, Dave Phinney…
The last time in the Napa/Sonoma area we stayed at a lovely B&B in Calistoga called Chateau De Vie. It boasts amazing breakfasts, lovely rooms, gracious hosts Peter and Philip and charming grounds with a 2 acre vineyard.
- View from our room of Chateau De Vie Vineyards
During our stay we were offered a glass of the A-Ma-Zing Chateau De Vie Cab. The nose was reminiscent of something I’ve had before but couldn’t place and the taste was oh so familiar. It was then mentioned that their good friend Dave offered to help them out with the grapes from the 2 acre vineyard. Dave……Dave Phinney. That’s when the light bulb went off. Orin Swift – The Prisoner (which is a Zinfandel blend) that, to this day, I still can’t get enough of.
Now, Trinchero Wines….
At a trade tasting we tried four of the upper end wines Trinchero offers and winemaker Mario Monticelli, was in attendance to share his expertise with us. Again, I was Wine Struck. This was a small event as well, so I was able to monopolize Mario until Hubby gave me the stink eye. It probably worked against me that Mario has an Italian accent because I just wanted to hear him speak……anything…..it didn’t really matter – as along as it sounded Italian….I was mesmerized.
So there you have it, my brush with wine celebrities and my love Grenache and the Trinchero wines.
Cheers to you and drink good wine!
My Love Affair With The Vine 