2007 Navarro Vineyards US Red Blend "Mourvedre"

Winery: Navarro Vineyards

Vintage: 2007

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Mourvedre"

Wine Category: US Red Blend

Grape blend: 75.5% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache & 4.5% Syrah

Region: Mendocino

State or country: CA

Price: $25

Cases produced: 265

KWG Score: 88 (based on 1 review)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good (88)

Review date: March 9, 2010

Wine Review: This wine reminded me of a Very Good Grand Cru Beaujolais. It is bright ruby colored and opens with a fragrant strawberry rhubarb like bouquet with a hint of red raspberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a slightly tart black cherry and strawberry with a touch of oak mixed into the background. The finish is dry and its moderate fine tannins linger slightly. Pair this wine with a chicken and shrimp paella or lentil soup. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Mourvedre is a late ripening grape variety and in Mendocino's cool climate we've only been able to bottle it as a varietal wine three vintages out of the last six. Like our Old Vine Zin and Petite Sirah, the goblet trained vines are in their seventies. This wine's aromas are most difficult to describe because they are neither floral nor fruity. Some of the other descriptors bandied around at our morning tasting included whiffs of mushrooms, white pepper, allspice or dry-cured black olives. Once swallowed, the huckleberry fruit jumps out in the mid-palate and stretches into a long, rich finish. Try it with a slowly simmered beef stew with shitake mushrooms. Given the age and output of the vines, we're worried that this may be Navarro's last Mourvedre.

Organic status: not organic

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