Winemaker Notes
The Grenache and Mourvèdre are yin to the other’s yang. The classic Dry Stack Grenache—62% in the blend—is one of the most consistent vineyard profiles in the cellar. It’s classic characteristics of pomegranate, kirsch, and blood orange are on full display here. On the palate, the Grenache lends elegance and freshness to Cuvée Moriah. The Mourvèdre—20% in the blend—is darker in nature, providing contrast and also broadening the flavors. It combines spiced-plum and Herbs de Provence with a mouth-coating texture for this intense wine.
Blend: 62% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 62% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 18% Syrah, the medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Cuvee Moriah has a stunning nose of crushed black cherries, redcurrants and blackberries with touches of tilled soil, garrigue, black pepper and violets. Full-bodied with a taut frame of velvety tannins and background freshness supporting the generous fruit, it finishes long and layered.
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Wine Enthusiast
Blending 62% Grenache from Dry Stack Vineyard with 20% Mourvèdre and 18% Syrah from different parts of the county, this is a balanced, lovely herbal and earthy wine, bright in red berry, sage and white pepper. It offers a length of oak and leather on the finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Grenache Cuvée Moriah is 62% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 18% Syrah that saw a fair bit of whole cluster (mostly with the Grenache and Mourvèdre) and aging in more neutral oak. This medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant Rhône blend offers perfumed notes of herbes de Provence, white and black pepper, and ample sweet currant and blackberry fruit. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.