Mourvedre Wine Tasting – Episode #603

January 5, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes 3 wines made from the Mourvedre grape.

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Comments on this episode(185) Leave a comment ›

“The Mourvedre that I’ve had have been from the Paso Robles area. Denne…” by Denner Grl
“Interesting show…. a wine i’ll have to try in the future. QOTD: No…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Cline Ancient Vines MourvedreSonoma Other Red Wine
2006 Turkey Flat MourvedreAustralian Mourvedre
2006 Domaine Tempier Bandol TourtineBandol

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

How To Get Your Wine Palate Trained. – Episode #148

185 Responses

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January 7, 2009

CBone
I think the only Mourvedre I’ve had are in Chateauneuf du Pape, of which I drink as much as I can! Never had a varietal like these, though.
January 7, 2009

JayZee
Great show – very interesting and a varietal that not everyone has tried or knows about. My one criticism is that you did not have any Spanish (Monastrel) Mourvedre wines on the show.

QOTD: My favorite Mourvedre wines have been the Monastrell blens from Jumilla in Spain, many of which are awesome. I have had a couple of Bandols, but not the Tempier, which has always looked overpriced on the wine lists when I’ve seen it. I have also had Garretson (from Paso Robles) Mourvedre which is a bit of a fruit bomb, but which I liked on some level. Alas, Garretson has gone out of business which is a big bummer for me. Matt is a great guy and a talented winemaker.
January 7, 2009

MattUD
I have a few wines with a small amount of mouvedre in them, notably the Panarroz Jumilla.
January 7, 2009

YoungDave
MOUVEDRE! I’m so glad you gave this grape its showcase today.

QOTD: I’ve had Southern Rhone blends, Bandol, Faugeres, a Paso Cab blend, Spanish Monastrell (Jumila, Bullas, etc.) ALL containing some proportion of Mouvedre and it’s a fantastic player when grown in the proper climate and taken care of correctly before bottling. GREAT SHOW!
January 7, 2009

joel kriske
QOTD:
I actually have a bit of experience with mourvedre, having worked in a French restaurant. Strangely, my current quest is my ultimate under $25 bottle of Monastrell and St. Laurent. Suggestions? Future show?
January 7, 2009

Brian Barrick
Glad to see Mourvedre getting some attention on the show, as it is one of my favorite grapes. Haven’t seen it bottled on its own very often.

The Cline didn’t even taste much like Mourvedre to me. It was too syrupy and had none of the tannin structure I would expect… not likely to age very well. It also had a distinct burnt-match aroma.

Rosenblum makes a very good Mourvedre (currently sold out at the winery) that has great tannins and deep plum and cherry fruit flavors. Great with pasta and tomato sauce.

Navarro has also been known to bottle a Mourvedre from time to time, though the last one I can remember from them was around 2002.
January 6, 2009

Alex M
QOTD: Had mourvedre from Edna Valley Vineyard. Good stuff, even at home: sometimes the tasting room environment (and the ridiculous view from Edna Valley’s in particular) seems to color my perception of the wine.
January 6, 2009

WineWoman
QOTD: I’ve had the Cline and yes it paired great with the hot dogs and hamburgers. I’ve also had Bonny Doon’s Old Telegram. Fantastic wine—balsamic vinegar, olive-taste, good fruit, well-balanced and yes, the cinnamon.

I enjoyed the new tasting technique and the clicking of the former “Commerce Bank” blue pen…..
January 6, 2009

Eugene
only had it in a blend with other grapes. And it was not the dominant grape. I know it does well blending. Have not had it as the dominant grape.
January 6, 2009

A dumb Rhine king
QOTD: My only experience of Mourvedre is watching some guy taste it

Great show!!
January 6, 2009

John C.
I’ve experienced Mouvedre in Spanish wines as Monastrell and I have also had some Australian GSM blends. I have liked what I have had.
January 6, 2009

JudeMurphy
I’m sure I’ve tasted mourvedre lots of times but I don’t recall any specific wines for it!

Gary you should do some classified growth Bordeaux, that would be amazing!
January 6, 2009

DrEdwardo
Not quite an answer to the QOTD but I much prefer the Spanish Monastrells in general over Garnachas, the latter of which I find too many with overwhelming rhubard and/or tomato stem notes. Whereas I like the ripe black fruit and tar I find in many Monastrells.

Edwardo
January 6, 2009

Rick D
QOTD: My experience has been to Mourvedre used in blends. Probably my favorite wine styles come from Southern Rhone and Languedoc/Roussillon both of which can feature mourvedre grapes.
January 6, 2009

NY Pete
First off, at least 13 Vayniacs at the Brix offline in Summit tried Twisted Oak’s River of Skulls which is 90% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. Secondly … WTF Alex, you were there. .
January 6, 2009

Brent B
QOTD: Never had Mourvedre but I am anxious to try now

Great show as always Gary. Keep it up.
January 6, 2009

Murso
Qotd – Aside from being aware, in my young days, that it was a component of considerable note in my much loved Rhone reds, from low to high, I began finding it blended far and wide across the Languedoc-Roussillon, often in simpler two-grape combinations, but also in more complex blends. By the early 1990’s, I’d found it both alone, and well blended by great wineries such as Ridge, whose efforts made clear what caliber of great we were talking about. Soon after, I found the limited production Cline Small Berries, which was my favoritest thing till around the turn of the millenium. Small production,low yield, and artisinal craft and treatments work best to make a memorable impression ($20+), but again, Jorge Ordonez (Juan Gill, Finca Luzon, etc.),and responsible Rhone producers can often show the way cost effectively.
January 6, 2009

Benj
Great show, always love learning something new. Never actually had a wine with a significant amount of Mourvedre in it (had a few Rhones with a little I think) but looks like I’m going to have to change that!
January 6, 2009

Smahlatz
Hmmm – just the Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro – not great – but reasonable if you get it around £3.50. When I lived in Aus 10 years ago — I hated Banrock Station – rough as guts – this aint bad though for the price – and unfortunately, that’s where I roll at the mo.
January 6, 2009

Cuse Wino
QOTD- never had it by itself but blended together I liked it.

I love that you gave it 93 but suggested not to buy it. I love the juxtaposition.

The shoulder shrugging could be your new signature!
January 6, 2009

CindyW
QOTD: During the past year, it became a joke between my husband and I — just about every time I said something like, “wow, this is incredible, I love this wine” . . . it turned out to have mourvedre in it. So, now I’ve started to seek out mourvedre and mourvedre blends. I’ve had several Spanish and Washington state mourvedres (we’ve got some nice ones popping up on the radar out here). It might be time for me to look for some Bandol wines next.
January 6, 2009

mrzitro
QOTD: I had the Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre ‘05. I have two points in common with your impression of the ‘06: 1. Oaky 2. Gamey taste on the midpalate (I thought more like blood though).

If you put the Bandol up on free shipping, I’d give it a whirl.
January 6, 2009

Marla
Another information and entertaining show, Gary! Love the pinata reference…Skittles. LOL Hope to meet you in Boston at the Wine Fest this month!
January 6, 2009

Herm
I’ve had no experience with Mourvedre…..but I will seek out this variety and give it a try….Thanks for another great show!
January 6, 2009

Dan U.
I’ve been to Yecla and you really can’t beat the Mourvedre from there, or from Jumilla, for great value. Barahonda and Castano are always good, and I’ll second that Juan Gil (silver label) for being absolutely killer. Rosenblum from California makes an interesting Mourvedre for about $15. Very different in character from the Spanish or French Mourvedre.