|
No Animals Were Harmed in the Production of this Wine…In fact, we don’t use animal products in our winemaking; yeast are actually more closely related to plants. And, wherever possible, we source certified organic components and keep winemaking pretty simple—grapes, yeast, and not much more. We offer the disclaimer above, instead, as a preface to discussing the Dog Strangler. We didn’t hurt any puppies (they’re welcome visitors at the winery). We’re talking wine here. Mataró. Monastrell. Mourvèdre and, colloquially, "estrangle chien" in some parts of France. Mourvèdre makes a beautiful wine, but it has a bit of a reputation as a wild thing, so you don’t often see it alone; it’s usually blended. It’s late to ripen and can make winemakers crazy waiting on it if California has a cold fall or early frosts. It can also be hugely tannic and terribly alcoholic if not managed well. Hence, the nickname. With the 2009, however, we beg to differ. Our Mourvèdre’s aromas are very floral. We love the rose hips, violets, and dusty herbs that we smell. Some of the floral notes may be a product of the vineyard; Wine Tree Farm, located just outside Amador City is well suited to Mourvèdre—hilly and warm—and all the varieties we source from there have floral or herbal components. In the mouth, the ’09 offers soft red fruit—raspberry and cherry with a little red licorice. It’s light in the mouth, but a touch of Grenache rounds out the mid-palate. It’s structured, but soft, without overly drying tannins that are often its bad dog characteristic. If you’re looking for a red wine to pair with chicken dishes, Mourvèdre’s the ticket. It complements a pork chop, too, Provençal-style vegetables, rich with herbs and garlic, suit it well, too. Molé that’s more chocolaty (but not sweet) is interesting. Technical Data:
|
Home 
09 Mourvedre
09 Mourvedre
Subcribe to our Newsletter
