Winemaker Notes
The 2017 Andremily Mourvedre is a blend of 88% Mourvedre from the Alta Mesa, and Larner Vineyards, co-fermented with 3% Viognier, and polished off with a touch of Syrah from the White Hawk Vineyard. The 2017 Mourvedre, while stacked packed and all that, offers a bit more refinement then its older siblings, with softer tannins, and more length. This Beauty has soaring aromatics of chocolate, roasted meats, baked blueberries and plums, along with hints of tar and subtle earthy notes. A velvety texture, and plenty of length make this wine an absolute delight to drink.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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!
Barrel Sample: 97-99 -
Jeb Dunnuck
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.
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.