Wines
of the Week:
Compelling Cali-Rhone - Mourvèdre & More
Red
Cali-Rhone
like Mourvèdre, are ideal for summer because they are
(more often than not) a lovely match for the dishes many of
us love at our cookouts. So fire up the grill, break out the
BBQ sauce, and look for these wines so the season can be enjoyed
properly!
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Vie
2013 "L'Intruse" Mourvèdre
Winery:
Vie
Grape(s): 93% Mourvèdre &
7% Syrah
Region: Santa Barbara County, California
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40-45
Review:
Notes of raspberries, cherries, and blackberries mingle
with whispers of vanilla and spice on the nose. With a
sip, flavors of pomegranate, blackberry, and cherry emerge
on the palate, alongside accents of white pepper and minerals.
Offering bright flavors and polished tannins, match it
up with a pulled pork sandwich. Only 25 cases produced.
Rating: 91 |
|
Brecon
Estate 2014 Mourvèdre
Winery:
Brecon Estate
Grape(s): 75% Mourvedre, 12.5% Syrah,
& 12.5% Grenache
Region:
Paso Robles , Ca
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 50-55
Review:
A bouquet of cherries, plums, cinnamon, and earth greet
the senses. The palate showcases flavors of cherry, plum,
and raspberry as well as suggestions of sweet spice and
earth. A wine with bright fruit and plush tannins, open
a bottle with your favorite gourmet sausages. 161 cases
were made.
Rating: 90 |
|
Vaco
Urbano 2014 "Norm" Grenache
Winery:
Vaco Urbano
Grape(s): 100% Grenache
Region:
Livermore Valley, Ca
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 40/45
Review:
Aromatics of cherries, plums, and blueberries interweave
with whispers of orange zest and spice on the nose. A
sip reveals flavors of blueberry, plum, and pomegranate
that flow into undertones of minerals and sweet spice.
Dark fruit and supple tannins make this a good match for
BBQ chicken. 168 cases produced.
Rating: 90 |
|
Sol
Rouge 2013 Cinsaut
Winery:
Sol Rouge
Grape(s): 100% Cinsaut
Region:
Paso Robles , Ca, Ca
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 30-35
Review:
Fragrances of cherries, boysenberries, earth, and white
pepper rise up from a glass. On the palate, flavors of
cherry, raspberry, and blackberry combine with elements
of pepper and minerals. Lush fruit and highlights of spice
endear this wine to lamb chops. Just 50 cases were made.
Rating: 90 |
By
Jason Barlow
Photo
credit: Didriks via DIYlovin / CC BY
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|