Its always educational and humbling to taste blind, too say the least - this monday none of us had a clue that we were tasting Mourvèdre from different parts of the world...:-)
Tasted double blind. All wines were decanted three hours before the first pour. Thanks Håkan for this lesson!
2005 Domaine Tempier Cuvée La Tourtine
From 40 year old vines this cuvée contains of 80% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache and 10% Cinsault, although the mix can change some from year to year.
The nose is fine, light and from the start a little anonymous but broadens in the glass. Notes of cool red currants, balsa wood, minerals and warm earth emerges from the glass. This is not that expressive but very nice in its laid back character.
The taste is young, tight and a bit seedy with cool red fruit, dry licorice, earth and minerals. The tannins are young and fresh. A medium long finish. Very nice, but needs another 3-4 years.
85p (tasted 2012/03)
2008 Valiniëre, Leon Barral
I don´t seem to like these wines...second time in a short while that I get a Valiniëre blind and the second time I don´t like it (the 2001 Valiniëre - http://barolista.blogspot.se/2012/02/eleven-bottle-of-wines.html)
A big, all-over-the-place nose with notes of rubber bands, scorched earth, warm metal, freshly sawn oak and concentrated bluberry and cherry fruit - but the sort that you pour from a can...
The taste is very young, very firm and very tannic with fiery red fruit, and notes of hot gravel, band aid, dark chocolate and wood. The finish is long but ends with a fiery note. Unbalanced. There is a marc feeling about it. Not my cup of tea, although better than the 2001.
68p (tasted 2012/03)
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tintot, Mas de Boislauzon
"Tintot" is apparantly an old name for Mourvèdre. This very nice wine is produced from over 80 year old vines and the production is a tiny 1500 bottles a year. The first vintage was the 2006 so this is a new kid on the block.
The nose is deep, fine and with a beautiful herbal scent that goes through the creamy cherry and red currant fruit. A lovely sweetness. With air more forest scents emerge. There is a touch of warmth here also, like warm dried red fruits. Very, very good.
The taste is tight, concentrated and fresh with beautiful sweet red fruit, perky tannins and a long, warm, caressing finish. A touch of warmth at the end reduces the whole impression a little for me, but this is a very fine wine.
89p (tasted 2012/03)
2008 Clio, Bodegas El Nido
A beautiful label on this heavy bottle. And the wine isn´t a slouch either! A big, voluptuous nose oozes from the glass with notes of blackberries, cherry liquor, vanilla oak, mint and wet earth. Very big but a tad one-dimensional. It doesn´t really evolve in the glass.
The taste is big and creamy with notes of sweet black cherries, licorice, beef broth, almond paste and dark chocolate. There is a lot of nice warmth in the finish with vanilla oak flavours dominating. A tad rough around the edges, but a nice wine all the same. Perhaps better with some more years in the cellar?
70% Mourvédre and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.
86p (tasted 2012/03)
2007 Ex Ex 7, Castillo Perelada
A limited edition release of 2.918 bottles, according to their website - http://www.castilloperelada.com/wines/ex-ex/ex-ex-7/.
Made from 100% Mourvédre, or Monastrell, as it is called in Spain, this one leaps out of the glass with gorgeous aromas of red and black cherry fruit and notes of milk chocolate, pipe tobacco, sweet minerals and a touch of eukalyptus. Deep and enticing. A lovely nose.
The taste is equally fine, with lots of fresh, sweet cherry fruit, firm but polished tannins and a very long, intense finish. Sweet licorice, chocolate and tobacco flavours mixes well with the fruit. This has a great balance and presence. A lovely wine!
93p (tasted 2012/03)
2009 Columella, The Sadie Family
This is a blend of Syrah and Mourvédre and one of the most famous wines from South Africa. The first vintage of Columella was the 2000. Nine years later, this vintage is a beautiful wine with a nose that starts out a little restrained (despite three hours in a decanter), but soon blossoms in the glass with scents of blueberries, rosehips, dry earth, cold coffe and a touch of vanilla oak. It becomes more structured with air, turning into a well defined, sweet, nicely put together wine.
The taste is young, tight and focused with sweet cherry and blueberry fruit and notes of dark chocolate, earth, leather and a peppery note that surely must come from the Syrah. A long, intense finish. Very, very good. Would definitely benefit from a few years in the cellar.
91p (tasted 2012/03)
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