A row of barrels in the Relic cave.

2019 Moon Mountain Mourvedre

One of our personal favorite wines. From organically-grown vines perched on the extremely rocky slopes of Moon Mountain, just over the ridge from Mt Veeder, this is a mountain wine. We treat this very traditionally, co-fermenting the Mourvèdre with small amounts of Syrah and Grenache with 50% of its whole clusters. The wine was fermented with native yeast and aged in 500 liter older French oak puncheons for 19 months. Featuring a dark ruby color, this wine is a great balance of the sauvage and the modern, with a huge nose of strawberry, raspberry, black cherry, white pepper, rosemary, dried thyme and mint. On the palate, expect a lush yet elegantly lacy wine with sneaky mountain structure framing the rich, authoritative flavors. The finish is a beauty with no hard edges and a ton of perfume.

  • 100% Mourvédre
  • Fractured volcanic soils
  • Native yeast fermentation
  • Aged 15 months in neutral French Oak, 1 puncheon and 1 barrique
  • 50% whole cluster fermentation for delicious spice notes
  • Moon Mountain AVA
  • 130 cases produced
Reviews
Red and blue fruits, ground pepper, and subtle leafy herbs notes emerge from the 2019 Mourvedre, a medium-bodied blend of 85% Mourvèdre, 8% Syrah, and 7% Grenache that was co-fermented and 50% destemmed. Fresh, elegant, and downright pretty on the palate, this balanced Mourvèdre shines on all accounts. I like it today, yet I’d be shocked if it didn’t evolve for 10-12 years.
Jeb Dunnuck
/
JebDunnuck.Com
/
March 10, 2022
/
93
points
Distinctive and multilayered, this red has personality to spare, with black cherry, grilled meat, dried sage and black pepper flavors that race toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2029
Tim Fish
/
Wine Spectator Online
/
October 15, 2022
/
93
points
Relic's 2019 Mourvèdre includes small proportions of Syrah and Grenache and is aged only in older French oak puncheons of 500 liters. On the nose, it hints of truffles, raspberries and cherries, while in the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, not too heavy or rich, nicely balanced and easy to drink. There's a long, silky finish, with touches of cranberry.
Joe Czerwinski
/
The Wine Advocate
/
May 31, 2022
/
90
points