Once Future, Mataro Oakley Road, Contra Costa County

fruit was a bit muddled as was the color. drink up. not sure fruit will outlive the tannins

2018 vintage

Excellent Merlot with great potential. Give some few more years, you will have fun!

2018 vintage

Another enjoyable bottle of this. Drank a week ago so no notes.

2018 vintage

Quite lovely. I wouldn’t pick this out as mouvedre but that doesn’t matter. Gentle fruit with only the faintest bit of funk at the end.

2018 vintage

Same note as previous: Plush and complex, with dark plum and berry fruit, graphite, violet and long finish.

2018 vintage

Drank over 4 nights, opening 3 times, next to a 2015 Bedrock Bedrock. This was richer and more fruity, I'm sure in part to the 3 years extra ageing on the Bedrock. Evolved nicely over 3 days and glad I did the experiment. Writing this too far after the fact to have detailed notes.

2018 vintage

(Blind verkostet im Rahmen der Blick Degustation "Merlot") Intensive, warm anmutende Nase, Gewürznelken, Tee, Orangen, Pflaumenkompott. Im Gaumen fleischig, rund, mässig Struktur, feine, gut verpackte Gerbstoffe, etwas Cola im Rückaroma. Wirkt gemacht.

2018 vintage

Very Good++/Excellent- What a pleasant surprise after my one other experience with this producer was poor. No notes, so I'll defer to other recent TNs below, which are excellent. I will say that this was really good on PnP but started to really shine after an hour and a half. Vibrant for Mourvedre without losing its self. 14.9% abv. No heat. None at all. I'd have guessed mid-13s. Empty bottle weight: 794g

2018 vintage

As I have been underwhelmed by some other CoCoCo mataro I figured I give this a spin and see where it’s at. Although similar to the others this was the best. Light in body with some earthy mushroom on the nose. Sleek dried cherry on the palate. This was a very pleasant drink.

2018 vintage

PnP. Boozy nose of red and black plum, red bell pepper with an undercurrent of barnyard. Lip-smacking bright red fruit along with a slight sour black cherry note, veering into spice, pickled jalapeño, and a lot of acidity. Finish is smooth, supple tannins with black cherry compote, wet leaves, anise, and a pencil eraser note before a soft oak finale. Fun to drink - went down quick.

2018 vintage

Bottle a ridiculous 1541g. So the bottle weighs more than the wine. No capsule, at least. Moderately intense aromas of black fruit, allspice, thyme and loam. Dry, with moderate acidity and moderate grippy tannins, full-bodied, 14.9° Delicious sweet fruit appears on the palate and crescendos into a lengthy finish. Blackberry, blueberry, raspberry. Not excessive though: the fruit, acidity and tannin are all in balance. Only a touch of heat on the finish. Lovely.

2018 vintage

Same note as previous: Plush and complex, with dark plum and berry fruit, graphite, violet and long finish.

2018 vintage

Pulled the cork about 30 minutes before and allowed to breath. This was my selection to commemorate International Merlot Day…which I guess is a thing? Anyway, the 2018 O&F “Sangiacomo” Merlot pours a deep ruby color with medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. There is actually a huge amount of sediment already…not sure if I got a bottle that was filled from the bottom of the barrel or what but I can confirm that it was significant. Otherwise, …

2018 vintage

Visually, this wine is a tad murky--red plum color. Something of a foliage nose with dark fruit added. On the tongue, however, I get more red stone fruit than anything dark. Acid spritz on the sides of the tongue is quite noticeable. Herbal suggestions under the rear palate. This wine is, pretty much, what I would expect from Joel Peterson--not terribly elegant, rather it is rustic with influences other than grapes.

2018 vintage

I am going to be honest. I find this mix of overripe grapes, too much new oak, no acidity, and weak tannins disgusting. It tastes more like a cherry soda than a serious wine. It is a caricature of bad California winemaking from my perspective. I just poured it out.

2018 vintage

This was great. Plum, earth, nice balance, just a fun and interesting wine.

2018 vintage

No notes. Quite juicy and very drinkable on its own.

2018 vintage

Same note as previous: Very plush Mataro/Mourvedre with no rough edges, just round red berry fruit and a lick of salt in the finish.

2018 vintage

Black cherries, plums, and a hint of pepper, medium full bodied, right to drink now, but will last also for awhile

2018 vintage

Plush and complex, with dark plum and berry fruit, graphite, violet and long finish.

2018 vintage

Deep ruby/purple all the way to the edge. Mulled strawberries and raspberries. Joel works this magic spice element into his wines and this was on full display here. Black pepper, allspice and dried orange peel. Contra Costa might have the best domestic and old vine Mourvedre in the state.

2018 vintage

Very plush Mataro/Mourvedre with no rough edges, just round red berry fruit and a lick of salt in the finish.

2018 vintage

14.9% abv. Medium-light ruby, very aromatic. Rose petals, cherries, ripe plum and Christmas spice highlight a well balanced, very tasty palate impression. Great now and over the next several years.

2018 vintage

A crowd pleaser and a palette pleaser. Dark red fruit, with just enough structure and tannin to pair up but not overpower thick, rich Memorial Day cheeseburgers.

2018 vintage

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Once Future, Mataro Oakley Road, Contra Costa County

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