WNT: Local AWS tasting of Mouverdre

Yesterday (4/11) our local chapter of the AWS tasted almost 10 wines made from Mourverdre. Scores are based on 20 - 1st is my score, 2nd is group avg. - all wines served blind.
1 - 2006 Arroyo Mataro Napa CA ($40) - The first wine of any such event is always difficult, but I think the score is accurate. Good nose of red fruit and fairly long balanced finish. We learned that this was actually a Cab, so it was put in a flight by itself. 14 - 13.54
The next two were served in a flight.
2 - 2004 Thomas Coyne Mourvedre CA ($18) - Short nose, medium finish. 11 - 13.33
3 - 1996 Jade Mountain Mourvedre CA ($20) - Something wrong here - bretty, short, unbalanced finish. 8 - 10.88
4 - 2008 Nabulo Spain ($20) 50% Monastrell / 50% Syrah - due to the blend, this was also served in a flight by itself. Plums, cherry and leather - long full finish. 16 - 14.21
The rest of the wines were all one flight, as they were all from Spain and 100% Monstrell.
5 - 2008 Wrongo Dongo Jumillo ($9) - Decent nose, medium finish and typical of the wines tasted thus far. 14 - 14.33
6 - 2008 Luzon Jumillo ($10) - I brought this) Good nose with hints of anise and leather - full med finish. 15 - 14.23
7 - 2007 Juan Gil Jumillo ($15) - Very nice wine - deep brilliant color, good nose of anise, red fruit - long finish. 16 - 14.86
8 - M5 Yecla ($15) - Deep brilliant color, good nose of leather, red fruit - long finish. 16 - 15.36
9 - M5 Yecla ($15) - Deep brilliant color, good nose of leather, red fruit - long finish. 15 - 14.59 Two people brought the same wine. Bottle variation or palate fatigue?
10- 2005 Barbhonda Yecla ($10) Dark garnet with some bricking - complex nose - less fruit, soft tannins and less acid than previous wines, full long finish - showing some age, but I like that. 16 - 13.33
This was my first experience with this grape and found it very enlightening. While it is used primarily as a blending grape it produces decent, inexpensive, deeply colored wines. It seems to do very well in Spain, but does not seem to be meant for long term aging. After the tasting we munched on some foods brought by the members and I fell in love with a strawberry and spinach salad (something new for me). A fun afternoon.

1 - 2006 Arroyo Mataro Napa CA ($40) - The first wine of any such event is always difficult, but I think the score is accurate. Good nose of red fruit and fairly long balanced finish. We learned that this was actually a Cab, so it was put in a flight by itself. 14 - 13.54

This has me confused. Was it labeled Mataro? If so it should not be cab. Also I assume this is Vincent Arroyo in which case a Cab makes sense but I was unaware that they made a Mataro.

6 - 2008 Luzon Jumillo ($10) - I brought this) Good nose with hints of anise and leather - full med finish. 15 - 14.23
7 - 2007 Juan Gil Jumillo ($15) - Very nice wine - deep brilliant color, good nose of anise, red fruit - long finish. 16 - 14.86

I have enjoyed both of these in the past. I generally prefer the Juan Gil but have not had a bottle since the 2005 vintage. I have seen some folks comment that it had gone down hill but your notes sound just as what I remember from previous vintages.

The Arroyo has me confused also. I just looked on their website and nothing like it is listed.

We will be having the Wrongo-Dongo Monastrell at a QPR tasting later this month. Will let you know how it does.

Sorry to hear the Jade Mountain showed so poorly. I've had that in the past and liked it very much.

Sorry to hear the Jade Mountain showed so poorly. I've had that in the past and liked it very much.

Being a '96, it was by far the oldest wine tasted and may be an indication of the aging potential of the grape.

[David M. Bueker]

Sorry to hear the Jade Mountain showed so poorly. I've had that in the past and liked it very much.

Being a '96, it was by far the oldest wine tasted and may be an indication of the aging potential of the grape.

Mourvedre can age very well. Just look at the longevity of the Domaine Tempier wines (mostly Mourvedre) for an example. I've had 15+ year old Mataro from Ridge that was still showing very well, so perhaps the Jade Mountain was either a tired bottle or something about how they make the wine is not conducive to longer aging. I am not sure if their Mourvedre was old vines or something younger that they planted. That could have a big effect.

I had a Wrongo Dongo in the first 1 or vintages when it came out, and it was undrinkable. I think I had a half glass one night and another the next, to see if it would improve, and remember having to send it down a chuck hole. Nasty stuff!

Glad yours was at least drinkable.

I had a Wrongo Dongo in the first 1 or vintages when it came out, and it was undrinkable. I think I had a half glass one night and another the next, to see if it would improve, and remember having to send it down a chuck hole. Nasty stuff!

Glad yours was at least drinkable.

Mark,
Be my guest at the AWS tasting April 27 in Syracuse. It's a QPR night. In addition to seeing if the Wrongo Dongo Monastrell has improved, you'll get to taste Pepiere Clos des Briords Muscadet, Raat's Original Chenin Blanc, Hazlitt Gewurztraminer, Nyakas Sauvignon Blanc, Dr. Frank's Pinot Noir, Cline Zinfandel and Cedre Heritage Malbec. All for free.

Dan

[James Roscoe]

2008 Wrongo Dongo Jumillo ($9) - Decent nose, medium finish and typical of the wines tasted thus far. 14 - 14.33
6 - 2008 Luzon Jumillo ($10) - I brought this) Good nose with hints of anise and leather - full med finish. 15 - 14.23
7 - 2007 Juan Gil Jumillo ($15) - Very nice wine - deep brilliant color, good nose of anise, red fruit - long finish. 16 - 14.86

If I am not mistaken, these are all Ordonez selections. They are all pretty nice qpr wines IMHO. I like the Jaun Gil too

QPR Night at the Syracuse AWS

Whites: Pepiere Clos des Briords Muscadet, Nyakas Sauvignon Blanc, Raat's Original Chenin Blanc and Hazlitt Gewurztraminer.
I thought this would be close, but the Hazlitt Gewurztraminer (about $10) was the clear favorite.

Reds: Frank's 07 Pinot Noir, Cline Zinfandel, Wrongo-Dongo Monastrell and Cedre Heritage Malbec.
It's a stretch to call Frank's Pinot Noir a QPR at $20, but I thought, what the heck give everyone a treat. Could have saved the money because the Wrongo-Dongo Monastrell (about $7) blew it and the others away.

Our Fayetteville Wine Society is a chapter of the AWS. I didn't know there were fellow AWS members among us in New York area. Howie, Elliott's on Linden Restaurant in Pinehurst does a marvelous spinach and strawberry and pecan and goat cheese salad in season. I need to make this at home more often.

I didn't know there were fellow AWS members among us in New York

AWS began in the Finger Lakes. Frank was the prime mover, preaching the gospel that American wine need not take a backseat to that from any other country. The people who actually put the organization together were from Ithaca, including my wife Nancy's father A. W. Laubengayer who was its first president.

Thanks for the info, Dan. We met Willi Frank at an offline in the Finger Lakes several years ago.