Andremily Mourvedre 2014
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2014 Mourvèdre from barrel, and it more than impresses from bottle. Incorporating 14% Syrah, it starts out floral and sweetly fruited, but quickly shows more and more classic Mourvèdre characteristics with its spiced meats, dried earth, black cherry, graphite and peppery herbes de Provence-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, elegant and seamless on the palate, it has savory, yet polished tannin and an incredible finish. This is a singular beauty that reminds me a touch of the Deus ex Machina Chateauneuf du Pape from Clos Saint Jean. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades. Make sure you decant it if drinking anytime soon. Note, this cuvée comes from the Alta Mesa and White Hawk Vineyards, and unfortunately, there’s only 70 cases made. Rating: 98+
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 86% Mourvèdre and 14% Syrah using 70% whole cluster and spending about 23 months in French oak (30% new), the 2014 Mourvedre has a very deep garnet-purple color and fragrant nose of mulberries, blackberry pie and preserved plums with hints of underbrush, beef drippings and black pepper, plus an exotic touch of cardamom. Full-bodied with loads of lively, savory layers, it has a firm, chewy backbone and persistent earth and aniseed layers coming through on the finish. 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. Rating: 96+
Other Vintages
2018-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Jim Binns, began his winemaking journey while attending classes at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Working with a number of small producers, Jim gained invaluable experience with vineyards throughout the Central Coast of California, as well as the diverse varietals grown in them. It was this exploration that lead to a love for Rhone Varietals, and the wines produced from them. Shortly after graduation, Jim was hired as the Cellar Master at the world-famous Sine Qua Non Winery, where he helped lead the winery team through twelve vintages. Jim’s time at Sine Qua Non allowed him to focus more completely on Rhone varietals, further refining his Rhone winemaking skills, while working under the guidance of Manfred Krankl.
With the 2012 vintage, Jim and his wife Rachel decided it was time to follow their dream in starting a wine project of their own. Naming it after their two children, Andrew and Emily, their brand Andremily was born. Andremily is committed to creating truly special handcrafted wines that capture not only the character of the varietal, from which they are produced, but also showcase what the California climate, from where they are made, has to offer.
In its short existence, Andremily has established a reputation for quality. Consistently garnering high praise from both the wine press and consumers alike. Focusing exclusively on Rhone Varieties, Andremily produces limited quantities of three wines each vintage. These offerings include their flag ship Syrah, a Mourvedre, as well as the more recent addition to their portfolio EABA, a Red Rhone Blend bottling. The Andremily wines have gained an enthusiastic following, finding their place on many of the most exclusive wine lists around the world. .
Full of ripe fruit, and robust, earthy goodness, Mourvèdre is actually of Spanish provenance, where it still goes by the name Monastrell or Mataro. It is better associated however, with the Red Blends of the Rhône, namely Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Mourvèdre shines on its own in Bandol and is popular both as a single varietal wine in blends in the New World regions of Australia, California and Washington. Somm Secret—While Mourvèdre has been in California for many years, it didn’t gain momentum until the 1980s when a group of California winemakers inspired by the wines of the Rhône Valley finally began to renew a focus on it.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.