My L-M's arrived last Thurs & I couldn't wait to try the:
1. Lagier-Meredith Mondeuse MtVeeder/NapaVlly (13.5%) 2011: Dark color; strong plummy/black cherry/Mondeuse/DrPepper some earthy/sauvage/walnutty/herbal rather perfumed bit Savoie-like/dusty complex nose; fairly tart strong plummy/black cherry/Mondeuse/DrPepper/spicy/bit herbal/rosemary some earthy/dusty/Savoie-like/loamy flavor w/ a bit of a tannins bite; very long earthy/dusty/bit loamy strong plummy/black cherry/Mondeuse/DrPepper/spicy some rustic/earthy/walnutty fairly complex finish w/ a slight tannic bite; not the high-toned character of their Syrah but lots a Savoie-like/sauvage character and maybe hints of the spicy MtVeeder terroir; a slightly rustic red that speaks loudly of Mondeuse.
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Mondeuse: Not much of this produced in Calif. Steve & Carole planted it in their vnyd up on MtVeeder because Mondeuuse is the bastard uncle of Syrah (MondeuseBlanche being one of the parents of Syrah). Mondeuse home is in the Savoie region of France, from which Syrah originated and migrated down to the Rhone.
I liked the '10 version a lot & found it to show a lot of very spicy black-cherry Mondeuse fruit. This new '11 version is a rather different creature and shows some of the rustic/earthy character that you find in Savoie Mondeuse. Presumably because of the 2011 vintage.
In his recent reviews of NapaVlly, Parker gave this Mondeuse a 73 (after a 94 for the '10). The guy is flat-out wrong on the '11. It is fully deserving of a 74...maybe even a 75 if you serve it w/ chocolate brownies. The '10 clocked in at 14.8%, compared w/ a paltry 13.5% for this '11 edition. I would, of course, not at all suggest....no siree...not even a remote chance...that the '10 appeals to the "ParkerPalate" and the '11 does not. Nope..wouldn't even think that. Besides...we've been assured that the "ParkerPalate" is a myth and that he's equally appreciative of wines w/ subtlety and complexity and balance. Too bad about the 73...looks like it's back to the drawing board for Steve & Carole.
Tom
