Winemaker Notes
Very dark purple-garnet. Verges on opaque. A deep, highly complex nose of black and blue fruits combine with suggestions of damp earth, tree bark, and baking spice. Very exotic! On the palate, medium full-bodied with flavors of black cherry, plum, and white pepper. Gentle tannins in the finish remind you this is Mourvèdre but overall, very refined and not at all rustic. The bottle opened for this tasting note disappeared quickly but I have no doubt this will age magnificently.
Blend: 100% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2019 Mourvèdre Radiant Ridge Vineyard is super-expressive right out of the gate. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice are front and center. Dried herbs and a kick of black pepper add an exotic flair to the finish. This mid-weight, fleshy Mourvèdre is a real charmer. Best of all, it should drink well with minimal cellaring. The Mourvèdre is one of the highlights in this range from Mike Officer and Carlisle.
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 boundaries overlapping the Sonoma Coast AVA and Sonoma Mountain AVA, Bennett Valley benefits from the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean just like its neighbors. Top grapes planted include Barbera, Pinot noir and Chardonnay, as well as Bordeaux and Rhone varieties.