JC's Own Rock: It Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2019

Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is a tad reductive and needs time to develop. Once sufficiently aerated, wild strawberry, raspberry and wild hedgerow fruits mingle with spice, cinnamon, a whiff of cardamon, liquorice and dried herbs. The palate is fresh and medium-bodied. The fruits feels ripe, fresh and juicy (I love the anise quality, but you know that’s my thing) nothing is overworked. It feels modern and respectful. I prefer this to many Torbreck GSM releases. Everything feels cool and natural, the long kick of spicy dried mint is great – green olive after a few minutes. Perfectly balanced, as you would expect. Excellent, in a word. Drink now to 2028 and decant for an hour or two. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.” 

Winemakers Note: I grew up across the road from a famous old school winemaker who was known to be one of the best blenders of his generation. So, for years I followed this ideal in the wines I was making. For a hands-off winemaker, you actually feel like you are doing something!
One day pondering life, the universe and everything I thought about why I hadn’t challenged this notion. Grenache and friends work well together - I’ll just pick them within a few days of each other, chuck it all in one fermenter and let the ferment rock it in its own way.
So, my theory is that the different varieties bring something complimentary, but they also bring something individual - so equal but opposite reactions in the ferment. I then remembered my high school physics and worked out it’s actually the same way a rocket works. Go figure.