Sunce Winery & Vineyard, Mourvedre 2011, Montgomery Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California

Tasting Note: Because you do not often find single-varietal bottling of mourvedre, this is worth a try even if only to experience the isolated of taste what is typically a blending grape.

This deep purple mourvedre has a nose of chalky ripe black fruit. The anticipated flavors on the nose don’t follow through to your palate where there is concentrated blackberry and acidity that overwhelms the fruit.

While the wine has not come into balance, perhaps the fault is mine in opening a 2011 so early. A few more years would have certainly mellowed out some of the flavors and tamed the acid. Give this wine some time to open up.

Bottle Note: Sunce is a family winery located in the Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County – specializing in small artisan lots of vineyard designated wine and classic blends. This 100% mourvedre is garnet colored, rich and velvety with aromas of forest floor and leather, and taste components of dark red fruits (particularly plums, currants, and cherries), and truffles. Excellent with lamb shanks and rich meat dishes.