Mourvedre/Monastrell

This is really in a nice place right now.  Mature but enough fresh fruit to keep it edgy.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has opened up on this showing black cherries, cherries, and plums along with spice and slight dried floral notes.  On the palate, there is plenty of vibrant black cherry fruit.  Deep with layers that open up quickly.  Good acidity.  Nice balance.  No hurry but I think a few more years and it starts moving the other direction.  Works well with a wide variety of foods.  A great example of why cellaring top wines in ripe vintages might be a good strategy.  

Having had the 2006 just a few days prior to this, it was surprising how much younger and tighter this was.  It does seem like there was a bit of a style shift starting in 2007 and rather than the wines really opening up at age 5, it is now closer to 10.  This one took a few hours to really open and then was singing if still on the youthful side.  Inky purple in color.

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell (Mourvedre).  In its youth, this was a big, sweet, oak drive and tannic wine.  At age 9 it has come together nicely.  It is still drinking youthfully but no longer dominated by oak, there is still plenty of fruit.  It is ripe and there are still medium tannins left.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, coffee grounds and spice.  On the palate, this has a lush texture.  Juicy black cherry and some cassis fruit.  There is a nice depth here if not (yet) delineated.  An underlying coffee note.  It worked with mildly spiced

This was way above my expectations for a not so great vintage and their regular cuvee (although they didn't make a Felix in 2014).  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is a bit musty but clears to show raspberries, slight strawberries, a bit of pine and spice.  On the palate, this has a lovely slick-ish texture that makes it imminently drinkable.  Bright acidity.  Nice finish.  Drinking quite well right now, this is not going to make old bones.  

This wine is in the beginnings of its prime drinking window IMO.  It should be good for at least another decade.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, cherries, raw meat, and floral notes.  On the palate, this has a great almost soft texture.  Slight tannins.  Layers of black raspberries, black cherries, licorice and earth.  This is a very clean wine.  Nice acidity especially for the vintage.  Long finish.  This kept improving all night.  It worked well my pasta dish after being open for a few hours.  

Salmon pink in color.  The nose is very nice with watermelon, slight celery note and with air, a bit or rhubarb.  Not under ripe though.  On the palate, there are some slight cherry notes on the attack.  Watermelon on the mid-palate and finishing with some strawberry notes.  Not a ton of acidity but some.  Works fine with lighter foods but make a great refreshing drink on the patio.  There is some complexity here as well.  This is an equal blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Shiraz and Mourvedre.  It is dry.  Retails for under $20 making this well priced.  Probably should be drunk by 2020.  

Pink grapefruit in color.  The nose is nice with some strawberries, watery cherry juice, slight rhubarb and herbal notes.  On the palate, this is refreshing.  While it is open, it did continue to improve for the few hours it was open.  Perhaps that is a function of the serving temp or maybe the air.  Still, I would tend to drink these up in the first couple of years.  Flavors of strawberries and light cherries.  Nice mouthfeel.  Works well on its own or with food.  At around $25 all in, this is fairly priced.  

This is made by one of the superstar winemakers of California.  This is Helen Keplinger's eponymous label.  It is a blend featuring Mourvedre as the primary grape.  While this is young and won't reach peak for a decade, it is delicious right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, plums, spice, slight earthiness and slight char.  On the palate, this has great fruit; dark cherries and plums with strong tannins.  Great mouthfeel.  

Always a star.  This is is still young.  This bottle was opened at 9:00 am and served at 11:00 pm.  It was served with dessert; a bittersweet chocolate tart and it worked wonderfully.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has chocolate covered cherries, black raspberries, slight floral qualities and spice.  On the palate, this has a lively quality to it.  Juicy acidity. Lush.  This is a big wine but smooth with no signs of alcohol.  Delicious.  Ripe but not overtly or sweet.  Long finish.  Upside for sure and development.  No harm in drinking now but will continue to evolve for a while.