Mourvedre Across the Years
If you follow the blog or have met me in the tasting room, you’ve probably read or heard my love for this wine before. I’m enamored with the 2005 Rosenblum San Francisco Bay Mourvedre for many reasons. It’s from our Appellation Series, which means it’s relatively inexpensive ($18), plus it goes great with meals that are full of different components ( I had it for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners), and is oh so tasty. It shows blueberry, cherry, minerality, spice, cocoa, and coffee with good acidity.
But how was the 2002?
Kenny G brought us a bottle of the 2002 San Francisco Bay Mourvedre, which used to be on the Chateau la Paws (also known as Dog Bone) label before the Appellation Series came around in 2004, I believe. Upon first opening the wine, it was obviously older from the orange brick color. There were notes of tart cherry, crushed rock, and smoke. But when I tasted the 2005 after it, the 2002 paled in comparison, with the fruit seeming much lighter and the other flavors muted. Unforunately, within about half an hour, the wine had faded rapidly until it was almost cabbage like. A few of us discussed it and decided it was probably an issue of storage– as it can get pretty hot in the summer where Kenny lives– instead of the wine not being able to age well.
While the 2002 is long gone, there is still a small amount of the 2005 Mourvedre left for sale. Don’t wait too long…. and I should heed my own advice and stock up as well.
2005 Rosenblum San Francisco Bay Mourvedre, 2002 San Francisco Bay Mourvedre, Chateau la Paws
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