McMinnville, Ore., winemaker Byron Dooley works with Rhone varities under his Chatte d’Avignon tier, and these three barrels of Mourvèdre come from Hellsgate Vineyard – a Washington state site at the eastern end of the Columbia Gorge. This red grape tends to be a late ripener, and the pick cam Oct. 22 from the first of three consecutiv hot vintage in Washngton. A pour of this in Dooley’s downtown Carlton tasting room offers a snootful of black pepper with rich notes of blueberry jam, huckleberry and cocoa dust. It’s a deliciously balanced and approachable Mourvèdre with flavors of Marionberry and blueberry, plush tannins and a rounded finish.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 73 cases
Alcohol: 14.4%
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