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In further pursuit of Mourvèdre
but not forgetting Grenache and Syrah of course...
A few
great wines discovered on a day trip to Château La Roque, Mas de Mortiès and
Domaine de l’Hortus (4/3/2005). All dotted here and there in the wild terrain north of
Montpellier, watched over by the eponymous peak (650 metres high). Read this for more
info and tasting notes: Vinisud 2004 - Pic Saint-Loup or visit the
PSL website.
Château La Roque
1998
Cuvée Mourvèdre (plus a splash of Grenache,
all around 13%) - attractive
complex mix of ripe sweet liquorice & berry fruit and maturing gamey
savoury characters; again nice ripeness, softness and elegance on the
finish set against a touch of grip, spice and bite.
92
2001
Cuvée Mourvèdre - chocolate
and spice notes mix with complex rustic tones, ripe black fruits v firmer
structure than the 02 or 03 (bordering on a touch bitter), long tight
finish. Needs time. 90+
2002
Cuvée Mourvèdre - rainy vintage: maturing smoky aromas, shows good fruit ripeness and spicy
notes, lighter and less concentrated than the 2003, drinking well now.
86
2003
Cuvée Mourvèdre - Very ripe,
perfumed/floral liquorice and black cherry fruit with complex earthy
notes; quite elegant and soft with subtle bite and length.
90+
2003 Cuvée Clos des Bénédictins (Rolle
Roussanne Marsanne barrique fermented) - Offers a touch more cream
and weight than the 'tradition' white, yet has lovely citrus lift and
aromatic length. 87
2003 Cuvée Tradition blanc (Grenache Blanc
Rolle Marsanne Roussanne Viognier) -
Attractive mix of aromatic and honeyed fruit, slightly exotic style
leading to steelier mineral bite, nice zingy length. 87
2002 Cupa Numismae (61% Syrah 39%
Mourvèdre) - Displaying quite a bit of
coconut, spice and vanilla on the nose; firm framework v riper black
fruits and more spice layered with oak, tight and quite long; perhaps too
much wood. 85
Domaine de l’Hortus
2002 Grande Cuvée (55%
Mourvèdre,
35% Syrah, 10% Grenache) - Quite light and forward
(pretty typical for the wet 2002 vintage) yet shows reasonable
fruit and ripeness v a firmer edge, attractive drinking now.
85
2003 Grande Cuvée (50%
Mourvèdre,
40% Syrah, 10% Grenache tasted from barrique) - spicy and toasty at the
moment (should be bottled soon) with textured tannins and tight finish;
should be good. 87+
Mas de Mortiès
2001 Que Sera Sera (50-50
Mourvèdre Syrah) - Complex smoky ripe black cherry and olive, open and
attractive nose; rich texture with leather and dried herbs, good depth of
fruit v grip, powerful yet elegant too. 90
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