Palate
Fragrant aromas enter the mouth with delicate balance. The mid-palate explodes with flavors of cherry and spice, while the finish is filled with earthy notes, keeping this wine complex without being overpowering.
Growing Conditions
The varietal thrives in the red volcanic soil found on Shannon Ridge Vineyard in High Valley, in Lake County. This spot produces fruit with deep, rich flavors due to the cooling affects of nearby Clear Lake.
2014 was a vintage that brought us a third year of drought. We received “miracle rains” in March, and a shakeup by Mother Earth in August that kept us on our toes (thankfully we only had a few repairs needed). The summer went smoothly, without sig-nificant heat spikes, but we did see high humidity throughout. Harvest was fast and compact until the early part of October provided a break to process the massive amounts of fruit. This is another great vintage on the heels of the fantastic 2012’s, and superb 2013’s; 2014, creating wines of true pedigree.
Winemaking
The grapes cold soaked for 3 days prior to fermentation. Fermentation went to dryness and lasted 14 days. The wine was then lightly pressed to maintain a delicate balance between flavors, color and tannins.
Aging
The 2014 Mourvedre spent 17 months in French oak barrels before bottling.
Appearance
Beautiful dark color.
