2015 Rideau Vineyard - Mourvèdre Estate (91 pts)

2015 Rideau Vineyard - Mourvèdre Estate (91 pts) @rideauvineyard · 🙋‍♂️ Have you tried Mourvèdre before❓· ℹ️ This wine is from Santa Ynez Valley California. It is 💯 Mourvèdre, it is not very common to see it as the only 🍇 variety in a wine outside of Spain and France. Fermented on skins, then aged in French oak for 26 months with 45% being new· 👁 Pale ruby color· 👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of ripe raspberry, black cherry, smoke, gravel, smoked meat, and cardamom· 👄 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium spicy tannins, high alcohol, and medium+ body. A lot more spice on the palate showing black pepper, star anise, and cardamom. Still a lot of bright ripe fruit. Medium+ length smokey finish· 🔔 This is pretty impressive overall. The pale color reminded me of Cru Beaujolais. The nose was ripe fruit on the verge of candied, but skirted the line well. The oak was very well integrated given the duration and percentage of new. Impeccable acidity like the last wine. The alcohol is high, but not hot. The structure holds it well. This is is very well made. Shout out for the classy label.