2008 Mourvèdre

2008 Mourvèdre Featured in the New York Times

We are proud to have been featured in Eric Asimov’s article “Mourvédre: A Sturdy Red for Winter” in November 1st, 2010’s New York Times. In the article, Asimov says (of the 2008 Mourvédre) that we make “a superb, darkly fruity, mineral-drenched mourvèdre in small quantities”. This wine was sent to the VINsider Wine Club in the fall 2010 shipment, and is now available to VINsider club members on our online order form.

Production Notes

The 2010 Tablas Creek Vineyard Mourvèdre is Tablas Creek’s sixth varietal bottling of Mourvèdre, and showcases the combination of intensity and freshness of the 2010 vintage. We use most of our Mourvèdre in our Esprit de Beaucastel each year. However, we feel that the Mourvèdre grape, often pigeonholed as a blending varietal, can produce remarkable single-varietal wines. When we have particularly characteristic lots of Mourvèdre, we try to reserve a limited quantity for a single-varietal bottling.

Our Mourvèdre grapes were grown on our 120-acre certified organic estate vineyard.

The 2008 vintage was our second consecutive drought vintage, with low yields, cool-climate characteristics, and a persistent elegance across both whites and reds. A late spring and moderate summer combined with beautiful harvest weather to produce gradual ripening and red wines that were unusually fresh and approachable despite appealing lushness. Mourvèdre was harvested between September 30th and October 30th.

The Mourvèdre grapes were destemmed and then fermented using native yeasts in a balance of small open-top and enclosed stainless steel tanks. After three weeks, they were pressed and moved to 1200-gallon foudres to complete their fermentation. The Mourvèdre lots were blended in June of 2009, aged for an additional year in a 1200-gallon foudre and bottled in May 2010.

Tasting Notes

The 2008 Mourvèdre has a garnet color that belies its intensity of flavor. It has a spicy nose of red cherry, plum and pepper. The mouth is consistent with the nose, with a little meatiness lurking under the bright fruit. The tannins firm up on the long, coffee-laced finish and suggest a good life ahead. Drink now and for the next decade.

Reviews

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Recipe Suggestions

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Food Pairings

  • Richly flavored stews
  • Pork chops with fruit reduction
  • Asian preparation of red meats (i.e., beef stir fry)
  • Bittersweet chocolate desserts
Mourvedre

Not Available for Purchase

Blend

  • 100% Mourvédre

Technical Notes

  • 14.1% Alcohol by Volume
  • 675 Cases Produced

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