Mourvedre/Monastrell

This is a GSM blend of 70/10/20.  Still young, it needs some time, especially for the Syrah and Mourvedre to come out.  Ruby in color, slightly cloudy.  The nose has black cherries and baking spices.  On the palate, this is more raspberries but the baking spice are present.  Smooth and easy drinking but also some depth.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Needs a few years and should have a decade more.  Will work on its own and worked great with a stuffed eggplant dish but roasted foods in general.  

This is really in a great spot right now.  Drinking superbly.  Will it get better?  Perhaps, but absolutely worth opening a bottle right now.   A blend of 52% Grenache, 26% Mourvèdre and 22% Syrah.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, white pepper, black cherries, and slight roasted coffee beans.  On the palate, this is soft, gulpable but also deep and complex.  Black raspberries and plums intertwined with char, slight earth and roasted meats.  A long finish.  It is delicious and a show stopper.  No rush, this should easily do another ten to fifteen

This is 100% Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre) from Jumilla, Spain.  It is another excellent red value from outside the main wine growing regions of Spain.  Purple/ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a dusty attic quality along with plums and a bit of iodine.  Interesting.  On the palate, this has black cherries and plums.  A bit of spice.  Some acidity.  Not a lot of complexity but easy drinking.  it should be drunk in the next year or two, but who knows, perhaps a lost bottle will surprise in five years.  It is a nice wine for a party or cook out.  It should go with most mea

This is a blend of 67% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre.  Consumed in the NY Jets stadium parking lot prior to the Monday night game between the Browns and the Jets.  A lot of fun.  While still very young, this was a perfect wine for the occasion.  Big, bold and delicious.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs, plums and slight violets.  On the palate, this has a wonderfully rich texture.  The wine goes down easily.  It is also delicious.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying char and a bit of pepper.  Great energy and balance.  Long finish.  Goes great with

A blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 26% Cinsault, and 4% Syrah.  This was part of a tasting that taught me that, more than most Bandol's, Tempier's will need plenty of cellar time to peak.  This was tasty now, but just felt like it was holding back.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is tight.  With air, some black cherries come out.  Eventually a bit of spice as well.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Very deep but tightly wound.  Black cherry fruit.  Plenty of tannins.  Long finish.  If drinking now give it a few hours in a decanter.  Otherwise cellar for ten more years.  This

Purple/ruby in color, slightly flat.  The nose seemed a bit off, perhaps storage.  It had a bit of aquarium going on.  Yet, there is also some black cherries and a bit of minerality.  On the palate, this is much better.  A pretty backbone of acidity.  Nice fresh cherry fruit.  Slight tannins.  Some complexity.  Long finish.  This is drinking about where one would expect at age 9.  It won't get better but should be at peak for the next five to seven years.  This will work with most meat or fowl based dishes or roasted veggies too.

Another new winery for me (which is always fun).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, a charred earthiness and black olives.  On the palate this has light tannins, black cherry fruit with a nice back bone of acidity.  This is young but drinks well on its own.  It should gain some complexity.  Hold for a three years and drink over the next five to seven.  It will go well with stews and fowl.  

This is 75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, and 2% Carignan.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is tight.  Dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, this has a wonderful glycerin texture but is tight as a drum.  Not much fruit today.  Some slightly bitter notes.  With air some black cherries come out.  Shorter finish.  This keeps getting better with air so if drinking soon, give it a few hours in a decanter.  Better to wait five to ten more years on it.  All that said, it's perhaps harsh as the overall experience is still very pleasing.  It will need big food today to pair

This is young but what a beautiful Bandol.  Inky purple in color.  A lovely nose with black cherries, black olives and just a hint of funk.  On the palate, this is very lively.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  Great acidity.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  Depth but tight.  Long finish.  This is delicious now, but could easily show a point or two of improvement in three to five years as it develops.  Great on its own, it needs bigger foods to pair with now but that should broaden with age.  Easily has another decade of life.  

This is a big wine that is still not giving up much.  The question at age 12 is when, if ever, it will reach that optimum peak.  Purple in color.  The nose is very tight.  With air some black raspberries and black olives come out.  On the palate, this is very tannic.  Some black raspberry fruit with a bit of black licorice.  When the tannins finally integrate will there be any fruit left?  That is the key question.  It is a very good wine today, but is this as good as it gets?  Given the reputation of the winery, one hope for more.  Let's this sit for a while and check back in three to five