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Wine Details
Price:
$18.00 per bottle
Description:
Mourvèdre is one of the more important red grapes of the Rhône River. Although largely unknown in the U.S., it does very well in the wine growing areas of Santa Barbara County. Our goal in making this Mourvèdre was to express the ripe, red raspberry fruit flavors as purely as possible. After destemming, the grapes were fermented in a small stainless-steel tank. The wine was aged for 10 months in older French oak to soften the tannins. Finally, the blend was finished with small amounts of Syrah and Carignane to further enhance the body and aroma.
This Mourvèdre shows typical varietal flavors of black raspberry and new leather, accompanied by exotic violet aromas. This is a mouth-filling, intensely flavored and darkly colored wine with smoky, brooding tannins in the finish.
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Varietal Definition
Mourvedre:
As long as the weather is warm, Mourvedre ably tolerates a wide variety of soils. It is popular across the south of France, especially in Provence, where it is responsible for the greatness of Bandol, and many a fine red Cotes-du-Rhone. It is often blended in Chateauneuf-du-Pape; Languedoc makes it as a varietal. Spain uses it in many areas, including Valencia. In the United States, Mourvedre remains a minor factor for now, pursued by a few wineries that specialize in Rhone-style wines. The wine it produces can be quite pleasing, with medium weight, spicy cherry and berry flavors and moderate tannins. It ages well.
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UnKnown:
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Carignane:
Carignane is one of the world’s most prolific wine varieties. Thriving in warm climates, Carignane was until the late 1970s, the most widely-planted red variety in California. Hailing from Aragon, Spain, this grape is capable of deeply-colored, extracted and tannic wines of considerable alcohol. It is a late-budder and does not ripen until late in the season. Highly prone to mildew disease, it requires long, dry growing conditions. It is often used as a blending component with other, more anemic, hot-climate varieties, like Grenache and Cinsault, which typically lack the deep pigment and extract which Carignane brings to the blend.
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Syrah:
Syrah is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhone grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with - healthy, early ripening, resistant to mildew and rot; suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. The wines from Syrah are tannic without being harsh. The wines will have a taste and smell of dark blue fruit like blackberries and blackcurrant, with a strong spicy side where one can find freshly ground pepper and other spices. Syrah is famous for its part in the French blends, such as Côtes du Rhone and Châteauneuf du Pape.
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