Once & Future Wines
Oakley Road Vineyard Mataro
Contra Costa County, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Flowers and chocolate. Rose, lavender, hibiscus and milk chocolate. Aging well.
Flowers and chocolate. Rose, lavender, hibiscus and milk chocolate. Aging well.
Mar 16th, 2024
Part of a double-blind, side-by-side between the 2017 Sandlands Mataro, which also happens to be from Contra Costa County. Opened and allowed both bottles to slow-ox about three hours prior to our guests arriving. Slightly deeper in color. The nose was lingonberries and dusty earth. On the palate, there were plums and spices. This comes across more round than the Sandlands and has the silkiest of deliveries. Medium tannins but they seemed to grow as time went on.
Given the structure, I expect these to continue aging very well. At this stage, this comes across as a very elegant wine. The Oakley Road Vineyard is own-rooted and dry-farmed; planted 117 years ago. 352 cases.
Part of a double-blind, side-by-side between the 2017 Sandlands Mataro, which also happens to be from Contra Costa County. Opened and allowed both bottles to slow-ox about three hours prior to our guests arriving. Slightly deeper in color. The nose was lingonberries and dusty earth. On the palate, there were plums and spices. This comes across more round than the Sandlands and has the silkiest of deliveries. Medium tannins but they seemed to grow as time went on.
Given the structure, I expect these to continue aging very well. At this stage, this comes across as a very elegant wine. The Oakley Road Vineyard is own-rooted and dry-farmed; planted 117 years ago. 352 cases.
Once & Future is a fairly new project headed up by Joel Peterson (yes, that Joel Peterson). Alongside this Mataro (Mourvèdre), the portfolio also includes Petite Sirah, merlot, and a killer line up of zins (of course, he is a bit of a zin master). Even some use of Bedrock vineyard in tandem with his son.
I’m fairly certain this is my first 100% Mataro (Mourvèdre). The color of this wine is one of the most gorgeous shades of purple I’ve ever seen...as though it’s mixed with a faint hue of magenta. This is a wine that could almost be enjoyed by nose alone...absolutely divine. Brambly fruits, huckleberry, baked blackberries that were just freshly squeezed. Potpourri. Though “only” 14.5ABV, it feels quite less. The palate is fairly light. Lots of tart dark fruits, cardamom, baking spices and plum. Great finish. @Jake Rubash , I’ve enjoyed our convos about this wine, thanks for the info!
It’s worth noting I had this open (in bottle) for an hour or so yesterday and while the nose was there, the palate wasn’t ready. Re-corked and was much better the next day.
Once & Future is a fairly new project headed up by Joel Peterson (yes, that Joel Peterson). Alongside this Mataro (Mourvèdre), the portfolio also includes Petite Sirah, merlot, and a killer line up of zins (of course, he is a bit of a zin master). Even some use of Bedrock vineyard in tandem with his son.
I’m fairly certain this is my first 100% Mataro (Mourvèdre). The color of this wine is one of the most gorgeous shades of purple I’ve ever seen...as though it’s mixed with a faint hue of magenta. This is a wine that could almost be enjoyed by nose alone...absolutely divine. Brambly fruits, huckleberry, baked blackberries that were just freshly squeezed. Potpourri. Though “only” 14.5ABV, it feels quite less. The palate is fairly light. Lots of tart dark fruits, cardamom, baking spices and plum. Great finish. @Jake Rubash , I’ve enjoyed our convos about this wine, thanks for the info!
It’s worth noting I had this open (in bottle) for an hour or so yesterday and while the nose was there, the palate wasn’t ready. Re-corked and was much better the next day.
Owner of the girl & the fig, the fig cafe & winebar, Author of Plats du Jours, the girl & the fig's Journey through the Seasons in Wine Country and the girl & the fig Cookbook
Expressive, gentle, flavorful long finish
Expressive, gentle, flavorful long finish
Apr 28th, 2018
High-toned, effusive, pure. A very harmonious wine that was alluring on all fronts. Black raspberry fruit leather, bramble, blood orange, santa rosa plum, juniper, peony, eucalyptus, sandal wood, exotic spices.
High-toned, effusive, pure. A very harmonious wine that was alluring on all fronts. Black raspberry fruit leather, bramble, blood orange, santa rosa plum, juniper, peony, eucalyptus, sandal wood, exotic spices.
Jan 19th, 2018
Of course it's not Petite Sirah but since Delectable no longer follows up on wines it cannot identify (still waiting on wines from Christmas to be ID'd) the only way to get it into my feed is to sneak it in under an assumed name. Kind of like an illegal alien. This Mataro rocks!
Of course it's not Petite Sirah but since Delectable no longer follows up on wines it cannot identify (still waiting on wines from Christmas to be ID'd) the only way to get it into my feed is to sneak it in under an assumed name. Kind of like an illegal alien. This Mataro rocks!
Feb 21st, 2017
Excellent. Has evolved well. Beam of red fruit.
Excellent. Has evolved well. Beam of red fruit.
Sep 30th, 2021
Rescuing my baby home from a recent work trip with this delicious new find. Heavier than your Pinot but lighter than a blend. Juicy, fruit forward with a wonderful Cali breeze to the nose…kinda like how my baby hits me with her Luciousness. Definitely a repeat and option for the home staple.
Rescuing my baby home from a recent work trip with this delicious new find. Heavier than your Pinot but lighter than a blend. Juicy, fruit forward with a wonderful Cali breeze to the nose…kinda like how my baby hits me with her Luciousness. Definitely a repeat and option for the home staple.
Jun 30th, 2022
Mourvèdre Madness Monday. Common threads: tart blackberry, characteristic rustic meatiness/ferrous quality and reduction.
Mataro from Zin master Joel Peterson. Richest, most forward and fullest bodied of the bunch by far. Extracted but balanced. Tannins are plush and wooly. Fresh violets, smoke and licorice.
Mourvèdre Madness Monday. Common threads: tart blackberry, characteristic rustic meatiness/ferrous quality and reduction.
Mataro from Zin master Joel Peterson. Richest, most forward and fullest bodied of the bunch by far. Extracted but balanced. Tannins are plush and wooly. Fresh violets, smoke and licorice.