Cline Cellars Mourvedre Contra Costa County Small Berry 2007

This rich mourvedre from California concentrates ripe, dark, almost syrupy berry fruit, dusty dark chocolate, and mint and bay leaf mostly at the front half of the mouth. After 1.5 hours of decanting the mint and bay leaf opened up into forest floor and dust became earthy. Nose has aroma of dirt, gamey meat, and chocolate with a hint of mint. Strong on the nose and the attack, weaker in the mid-palate and finish, has sharp acid around the front of the tongue with medium tannins. After 24 hrs in the refrigerator fruit in the mid-palate strengthened; wine paired very well with 85% dark chocolate and also with strongly herbal pasta with diced meat. Finish is mostly short but persists with a hint of almond nut flavor.

2. 2007 Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre – Contra Costa County (15%) – Color: deep garnet with a purple tinge, Nose: (“Caramel…eraser shavings. I’m serious about the eraser shavings…and blueberries, that’s what I’m getting” – Hector), a little must, Taste: strong chocolate notes, nice finish, very nice finish Lamarr: low A- (really digging this, would buy again!) Hector: 89, the highest B+ I can give

Great taste and flavorful. Rasberry chocolate.

Love it!

Smoke/leather/plum lead with a dry finish. The smoke up front is harsh and nearly overpowers the plum. Bright fruit is necessary to achieve any sort of balance, but overall I would not purchase this again.