2015 & 2017 Andremily California Mourvèdre Tasting Lot

“Produced from 92% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah and 3% Viognier using 73% whole cluster and spending about 21 months in French oak (50% new), the 2015 Mourvedre has a deep garnet-purple color and a lovely spice cake, fragrant earth and fallen leaves-scented nose over the core of plum pudding, blackberry tart and black cherry compote, plus touches of anise and coffee. The full-bodied palate is packed with spicy, savory and earthy layers, with a firm backbone of grainy tannins and lively acid, finishing with lingering pepper and anise notes. This wine was reminiscent to me of Beaucastel’s Hommage a Jacques Perrin and when I mentioned this to winemaker Jim Binns, he smiled and said that was his inspiration. (LPB) 98+” (09/2017)

“The second vintage for the cuvée, the 2015 Mourvèdre (92% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, and 3% Viognier) saw a big chunk of stems (73%) and 21 months in 50% new French oak. Currants, smoked herbs, chocolate, licorice, and truffle notes all flow to a big, rich, powerful Mourvèdre that has serious meatiness, density, and length. 96+” (10/2018)

“The 2015 Mourvèdre is dense, powerful and explosive. Incredibly primary, the 2015 is going to need at least a few years to shed some baby fat and develop the full breadth of its aromatics. A year has passed since I tasted the 2015 from barrel, but the wine appears to have barely budged! (AG)” (09/2018)

“The 2017 Mourvèdre is composed of 88% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah and 3% Viognier coming from the Alta Mesa Vineyard in Santa Barbara County, White Hawk Vineyard in Cat Canyon, Watch Hill Vineyard in Alisos Canyon and Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. Seventy percent whole cluster was employed. To be bottled in mid-August 2019, the wine is still maturing for approximately 21 months in a French oak barriques and 600-liter Demi-Muids, 50% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it has a beautiful perfume of chocolate box, licorice and bouquet garni over a meat, blueberry pie and baked plums core with hints of tar and tobacco. Full-bodied, wonderfully concentrated and possessing loads of earthy and mineral accents intermingled with the black and blue fruits, it has a compelling velvety texture and great freshness, finishing very long. This spectacular Mourvedre is a must-try for lovers of Rhone varieties! (LPB) 97-99+” (06/2019)

“The 2017 Mourvèdre is largely in the same mold, yet shows more meaty, spicy aromas and flavors. All Mourvèdre and revealing a more ruby hue, this full-bodied masterpiece gives up a huge core of blackberry and kirsch fruits as well as notes of dried flowers, peppered beef, herbes de Provence, spice, and hints of garrigue. It's certainly a big, ripe wine, yet it has awesome complexity, silky tannins, and a finish that won't quit.” (08/2020)

“The 2017 Mourvèdre is a beautiful wine. It is also the most harmonious of the 2017s in the early going, especially with regards to oak. Once again, the aromatics in the 2017 are absolutely beguiling. Cedar, smoke, tobacco, dried leaves and menthol develop with a bit of coaxing. The Mourvèdre is savory and beautifully layered from start to finish. This fruit was sourced from Alta Mesa, White Hawk, Larner and Watch Hill. The Mourvèdre is the one wine in this range that is raised in a combination of barrique and 600L puncheon (50% new). The presence of larger format oak likely explains why the Mourvèdre is a bit less marked by new wood than the other wines. Aging was around 21 months. (AG)” (08/2020)