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Wine Details
Price:
Description:
The 2005 vintage was a perfect combination of a frost-free spring, an even, warm summer,
and a protracted 'Indian summer' -- virtually ideal conditions for excellent wine grapes. The extra hang time produced mature, concentrated flavors and the season’s ideal weather resulted in small berry size. 2005 will stand as one of the most outstanding vintages in the industry's history. This is our fourth vintage of Mourvèdre, a varietal we believe will become legendary in
Washington State. The cuttings are Beaucastel material sourced from Tablas Creek Vineyard, planted for us in 1999 by Jim Holmes at his renowned Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red
Mountain. Our purpose in planting these grapes is for our southern-Rhône blend (“Sirocco”), but we couldn’t resist bottling a small quantity as a single varietal.
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Varietal Definition
Mourvedre:
As long as the weather is warm, Mourvedre ably tolerates a wide variety of soils. It is popular across the south of France, especially in Provence, where it is responsible for the greatness of Bandol, and many a fine red Cotes-du-Rhone. It is often blended in Chateauneuf-du-Pape; Languedoc makes it as a varietal. Spain uses it in many areas, including Valencia. In the United States, Mourvedre remains a minor factor for now, pursued by a few wineries that specialize in Rhone-style wines. The wine it produces can be quite pleasing, with medium weight, spicy cherry and berry flavors and moderate tannins. It ages well.
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