2022 Mourvedre

Tasting Notes

This medium bodied wine shows bright brambly red and blue fruit intermingling with aromas of bearclover, and spice. A true expression of our mountainous location, you can smell the pine forests that surround the vineyard in this wine. Moderate tannins are framed by balanced acidity and vibrant finish. Pairs with a range of meat, both white and red, along with earthy vegetables like mushrooms and potatoes.

Vineyard Notes

Our Mourvèdre story began in 2001, when we planted two acres at the lower edge of our estate—Unknown to us at the time, this grape is a favorite of a local family of bears. Inevitably, about a week before picking, these bears gently pluck the clusters at night,
devouring roughly 10,000 pounds of Mourvèdre in just a few days. After years of losing fruit to our furry neighbors, we’ve learned to harvest as soon as we notice bear activity, resulting in consistently small crops. This reliably limited yield inspired us to create a unique nonvintage Mourvèdre. Our newest release is a 50-50 blend of two vintages—2023 from our estate vineyard and 2024 from a nearby site. The 2023 portion was harvested at relatively low sugars and fermented whole-cluster in open-top bins, a technique widely
used in the Rhône Valley that involves fermenting grapes still attached to their stems, enhancing the wine’s spicy aromatics and complexity. In 2024, after the bears consumed our entire crop, we sourced Mourvèdre from a neighboring vineyard at 2,300 feet elevation planted on rocky shale. Picked riper, destemmed, and crushed, this component provided rich, dense fruit.

Winemaker Notes

Blending these two vintages created a wine that beautifully balances the fresh, spicy brightness of the 2023 portion with the lush ripeness and depth from 2024. The resulting Mourvèdre shows a Pinot Noir–like elegance, with a vibrant, light color and enticing aromatics. It’s a perfect match for pork, chicken, or grilled vegetables—and perhaps best enjoyed before the bears return!

Awards

91pts, Wine Enthusiast