The Tasting Panel magazine

JULY 2012

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DEPARTMENT HEADER The Roussillon, in southern France. For winemakers Dave Phinney and Joel Gott, the grass is often greener—and the grapes are frequently riper—on the other side of the world. When not making wines for their respective California labels (Orin Swift Cellars and Joel Gott Wines), the adventuresome duo can usually be tracked down via GPS trekking the globe in search of hidden pockets of undiscovered viticulture that can be turned into value-driven wines for an ever more appreciative American audience. While Phinney and Gott's individual pursuits include Malbec in arid Argentina, Pinot Noir in high-elevation Chile and Cabernet "from all over," their fi rst project together is a stunning Grenache from the Roussillon, in southern France. Shatter, 100% Grenache from the small town of Maury in France's Roussillon region, is named for a phenomenon in which grape clusters fail to develop all their berries after fl owering. While this condition—called coulure in French—is usually considered a viticultural hazard, Gott and Phinney boldly embraced it as the name for their new project. As Phinney explains, "This area of the Roussillon is very prone to shatter. It actually decreases yield and intensifi es the wines." Shatter is the newest edition to the Trinchero Family Estates growing portfolio of wines. The striking Shatter label is as elegant as the wine inside. july 2012 / the tasting panel / 49 PHOTO: JIMMY P. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHATTER WINES.

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