One of the best Mourvédres I’ve had in the past year, this version is a rockstar. Reminiscent of the amazing Tablas Creek Mourvédre I recommended in the Aug. 16, 2012, issue, the bright fruit in winemaker Larry Schaffer’s wine is luscious and irresistible. I consider it an excellent value given the quality and its low retail price of $30 at the Los Olivos tasting room, or online at Tercerowines.com. I loved it for its forward blackberry and tangy wild boysenberry flavors nicely nuanced with notes of blueberries, minerals, and spice. It’s quite drinkable alone, but it’s best at the dinner table. I recommend it with pork sausage and pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, grilled steaks, or, better yet, a leg or rack of lamb with a mustard-herb crust. Enjoy the leftover wine with cheddar, Jack, or goat cheese and a really good crusty bread.
This article appears in Jan 17-24, 2013.