Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Category Archives: Mourvedre
Red Wine Stars of the Rhone
Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge, 2007 The fruit has both a fresh and dried character, combining cherries, plums and raisins. In the mouth it has an elegant profile, the structure is apparent yet restrained, not dominating the flavors – very … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône
Tagged Beaucastel, Chateau La Nerthe
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Penfolds Club Reserve Aged Tawny
Penfolds, South Australia, Club Reserve, Aged Tawny nv In the nose you’ll find raisins and butterscotch with a sense of the spirit in the background. This all carries on in the mouth with nuttiness, sweetness and well-integrated alcohol. Like the value-oriented … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Fortified dessert, Grenache, Mourvedre, Port, South Australia, Syrah, Tawny Port
Tagged Penfolds
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Rhone blends from California and Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles, Cotes de Tablas 2008 The fruit is fresh and lively in the nose, with floral notes and sweet spice. In the mouth it is medium-bodied, very fruity and structured, making it a winner with grilled … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Counoise, Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Rhone Blend, Rhône, Syrah
Tagged Tablas Creek
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Pibarnon Bandol 2005
Chateau de Pibarnon, Bandol 2005 The nose is quite spicy, borrowing both brown and green entries from the spice rack. In the mouth this wine is quite substantial, big in structure and acidity that drives the flavor for a long … Continue reading
Posted in Bandol, France, Mourvedre, Provence
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Cline Mourvedre 2007
Cline, Contra Costa County, Ancient Vines, Mourvedre 2007 Give this some air as it is a little reductive upon first opening. In the mouth the black fruit is apparent with ample acidity and light body. P&B in Sonoma 15% $10.99 … Continue reading
Posted in California, Contra Costa County, Mourvedre
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Bogle Phantom 2006
Bogle Vineyards, California, Phantom 2006 Dark fruits and a bit of berry jam mark the nose with a hint of toffee. In the mouth, the fruits are surrounded by tannins that are ripe, with just a little grip to let … Continue reading
Posted in California, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel
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Cline Late Harvest Mourvedre 2005
Cline, Contra Costa County, Late Harvest, Mourvedre 2005 This wine exudes sweet berry jam with a healthy dose of oaky richness. It has been a perennial hit at our events and quite lovely with dark chocolate. The fruit is sourced … Continue reading
Bedrock Rose 2008
Bedrock Wine Co., Sonoma Valley, Ode to Lulu, Rose of Mourvedre 2008 This is a broader style of rose reminiscent of the south of France with hints of brick to see a little added weight on the palate. The grapes … Continue reading
Posted in California, Mourvedre, Rosé, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
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Quivira Rose 2008
Quivira, Dry Creek Valley Wine Creek Ranch, Grenache, Rose 2008 In the nose the fruit is ever so fresh, featuring citrus and strawberries. In the mouth there’s plenty of acidity, a little phenolic grip and a sense of the alcohol … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rosé, Sonoma County
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Brunel Les Cailloux 2006
Andre Brunel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cailloux 2006 In the nose the fruit goes from fresh to raisin, with black pepper and spices from the cupboard. In the mouth, this wine is approachable already, chewy and dripping with acidity with plenty of … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah
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#2 Beaucastel 2005
Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge, 2005 The black fruits are alight in the nose with a liquer-like character. In the mouth the fruit is very expressive with the structure you’d expect – a great combo. The grapes are sourced from … Continue reading
Posted in Cinsault, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône, Syrah
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Cotes du Rhone Red
Jean-Luc Colombo, Cotes du Rhone, Les Abeilles 2006 This is a juicy-fruity budget offering from the famous Cornas producer. It drinks easily with a little bit of structure. Eleve et mis in La Roche de Glun in Tain 13.5% $??? … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rasteau
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La Bastide Blanche 2006
La Bastide Blanche, Bandol 2006 The fruit has a jammy character, a bit liquer-like accentuated by the parfume of sweet flowers. In the mouth, the black fruits are ripe and the tannins are too, showing themselves in a velvety way … Continue reading
Posted in Bandol, Mourvedre, Provence
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Chateau de Pibarnon 2004
Chateau de Pibarnon, Bandol 2004 The nose combines ripe black fruits, black licorice and some earthiness in a bit of a barnyard way. There’s plenty of structure in this chewy wine, with more of the flavors in the nose and … Continue reading
Posted in Bandol, France, Mourvedre
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Rhone Rangers Seminar 11/08
The Rhone Rangers hosted a seminar yesterday featuring wines that pay homage to the grapes made famous in France’s Rhone Valley. The seminar was not bound by geography; there were wines from both sides of the Atlantic. The seminar was … Continue reading
Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 2005
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles, Esprit de Beaucastel 2005 The brett is dominating the nose and while it works for this style of wine, it will put off some looking for a cleaner approach in the New World. The gaminess … Continue reading
Posted in California, Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Syrah
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Andre Brunel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cailloux 2005 The nose sports smoke and a healthy but appropriate dose of brett for this wine, accentuating a meatiness. The earthiness repeats in the mouth with an explosion of red fruits. The structure provides the … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône
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Bandol legend
Domaine Tempier, Bandol 2005 The black fruit is blended with herbs of the region, fresh from the landscape and an element of meat on the grill. In the mouth there is lots of fruit wrapped up in tannic youthfulness. The … Continue reading
Posted in Bandol, France, Mourvedre, Provence
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OAP Mourvedre
Jade Mountain, Contra Costa County, Evangelho Vineyard, Mourvedre 2005 There are some reductive notes in the nose to accompany the black fruit. In the mouth there’s a fair amount of acidity, light body and a sense of the alcohol’s warmth. … Continue reading
Posted in California, Contra Costa County, Mourvedre
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Rhone grapes here and there
Les Restanques de Pibarnon Bandol 2003 This is a good value offering from Pibarnon, showing ripe fruit overlaid with ripe tannins. This wine gets better each time I taste it. The complexity is there and the edges are softening when … Continue reading
Posted in Bandol, California, Central Coast, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Uncategorized
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Two Takes on Provence
Jade Mountain California La Provencale 2004 Previous notes show the wine as complex and oaky though the 2nd bottle earlier in the year seemed a little alcoholic. Tonight’s bottle is very supple again and I don’t think most people would … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Cotes de Provence, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Provence, Rhone Blend, Syrah
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