Wine: Chapel Hill Mourvèdre
Vintage: 2011
Region: McLaren Vale
RRP: $30.00
Good evening wine lovers!
This evening I look at a grape that I have addressed in previous reviews. However, this time I address this grape variety on its lonesome.
Mourvèdre originated in Spain, and has since been grown majorly in France, Australia and the USA. This grape type is usually introduced into other wines, and most commonly Shiraz and Grenache.
Mourvèdre is such an interesting grape, and rarely gets any credit as a stand alone variety here. That might be because it offers something different from the usual wines that we have here in Australia. While our big reds like to encompass fruit and oak characters, Mourvèdre likes address the bull in the room and looks at more remorseful characters behind wine. (Those that we tend to neglect in this country.) People might not like what a straight Mourvèdre brings to the table, but it should be recognised as a stand out stand alone wine. Simply because it has so much to offer.
So, on to this wine.
The colour is not something that appeals to the looks of the drinker, but it speaks for the wine. The colour represents a plum red earth and is highlighted by a scarlet “hue.” *Hue refers to the top of the wine in the glass.
On the nose, it is typical Mourvèdre character. The nose is full of earthy characters, black pepper, spice, clay, leather, gravel and red meat. What this grape variety does is suck in all the heat hence these hard summer associated characters. Also to add, if you look a little deeper the smallest hint of blueberries is there hiding away like the punished school kid in the room with their face towards the wall.
On to the palate, and it’s much more the same story. It transmits the flavours of the earth, tar and black pepper. The taste upfront is almost marmitey, with the hints of game characters that you would associate with venison, duck and cured meats. It carries onto a dry full bodied finish, with the ever subtle undertone of blueberry. Like the naughty school kid, we don’t like to look, but we know it is there.
Before I continue, I want to add, that in Europe, and particularly in Spain and Italy (not so much France,) they produce wines that will match with their foods. Unlike the USA, Australia and France, who tend to dabble in making both food pairing and stand alone drinking wines. This wine is true to the Spanish heritage and it should be drunk with food, rather than by itself. This wine, like the Spanish diet would accompany cured meats and game food.
If you are new to the world of wine, I would not recommend drinking this wine right up, but for those of you who love a good red, and especially Cabernet, then you should consider looking into this wine as an alternative.
Drinking well now, and over the next 5 years.
**Something new** I shall rate the wine out of 100 (as do most wine critics) from my experience. Please note that I will rate the wine based on how it represents the grape variety more so than the way it tastes in general as this only contributes to a small factor behind wine. This means opinions amongst yourself and me will often be different if you are looking at taste alone, rather than asking the question, “does the wine fulfill the characters of the grape?” As is what I will be looking at.
Therefore, I give this wine a 91/100
The SA Wine Guy
