Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Youthful and enticing nose of mulberries, dark cherries, rosemary and peppercorns. Some bitter chocolate and roasted espresso. It’s medium- to full-bodied with powdery tannins and a soft, chocolaty finish. From organically grown grapes.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine has aromas of brambly black and red berries and a touch of jalapeño. Ripe blackberry and raspberry flavors are joined by notes of dark chocolate, clove and crumbled sage leaf. Velvety tannins and well-balanced acidity skate into a pleasing finish.
Best Buy
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.
Famous for the robust and earthy, black-fruit dominated, Monastrell (known as Mourvedre in France), Jumilla is an arid and hot region in southeastern Spain. Its vine yields tend to be torturously low but this can create wines of exceptional intensity and flavor. Quality combined with accessible price points give the region great recognition on international markets far and wide.
The reds from Jumilla are heady and spicy, packed with fruit and show aromas of dried licorice and herbs. If you like Syrah, Grenache or Pinot noir, a red wine from Jumilla would be a perfect next choice!