90+ 2006 Tablas Creek Mourvedre 6/20/09 ($32)
14.5% alc
Color: Medium deep garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Tree bark, bramble and excellent acidity supporting black raspberry, grapy blueberry and cherry fruit with spicy radish thrown in. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent structure, the acidity and tannin are both excellent. The fruit is more than sufficient, but needs time to shine through. Coats the mouth nicely. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but a little tighter. Still interesting with a solid mid-palate. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with spicy radish and bramble really lingering. (3.0)
Overall: This is distinctive stuff that's all Mourvedre in style, it couldn't be anything else. That austere tree barky, radishy spice, that firm structure, that dry berry fruit. This is a varietal that many don't like due to its austerity in youth and its rustic forestal nuances, but I've always found fine examples, such as this, to be fascinating and palate expanding. Give it 5+ years or decant for 2 hours if drinking now. (15.0)
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