2017 Mourvèdre

Catapult & Paderewski Vineyards, Paso Robles
88% Mourvèdre, 12% Grenache
Fermented in concrete and new French oak puncheons
Aged 18 months in French oak puncheons and barrels (91% new)
305 Cases produced
Bottled June 12th, 2019 | Released Fall 2020

 

Jeb Dunnuck | 97
Blended with 12% Grenache, the 2017 Mourvèdre is rocking stuff, offering loads of red and black currants fruits as well as spiced meats, licorice, pepper, and loamy earth. Full-bodied and powerful, it still stays beautifully balanced and elegant, with sweet tannins. This gorgeous effort will continue to evolve gracefully for 10-12 years or more. -September 2020 (Jeb Dunnuck)

 

Vinous | 95 
Inky ruby. Musky dark berry, floral, succulent herb and vanilla aromas show excellent clarity and powerful, spicy lift. Palate-staining black currant, cherry-vanilla, floral pastille and licorice flavors show impressive energy for their heft. Finishes very long and juicy, with repeating dark fruit and floral notes and rounded, slowly mounting tannins providing closing grip. 91% new French oak puncheons. -December 2020 (Josh Raynolds)

 

Wine Advocate | 93
The 2017 Mourvèdre, containing 12% Grenache, was aged 18 months in 91% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and gives up blueberries, boysenberries and blackcurrants aromas with grilled meats, tar, turned earth, laurel and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate gives intense, perfumed fruits with a finely grained frame and juicy freshness to lift the long, floral finish. 305 cases produced. -February 2020 (Erin Brooks)

2016 Mourvèdre

Catapult Vineyard, Paso Robles
100% Mourvèdre
Fermented in concrete tank
Aged 18 months in French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons (31% new)
Released Fall 2019 | unfined and unfiltered

 

Jeb Dunnuck | 97+
A relatively new cuvée based all on Mourvèdre, aged 18 months in 31% new French oak, the 2016 Mourvèdre has a brilliant bouquet of spiced blackberries, cured meats, underbrush, and ground pepper. Full-bodied, deep, and brilliantly concentrated, it has building tannins, terrific balance, and a great, great finish. This is pure Mourvèdre brilliance to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years. 2019 – 2034; October 2019, (Jeb Dunnuck)

 

Vinous | 95
Opaque ruby. Powerful aromas of blackberry, cherry and blueberry liqueur, succulent flowers, vanilla and exotic spices take on a hint of smoky minerality with air. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering intense, spice- and mineral-laced black and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors, along with a spicy touch of cracked pepper. Finishes on a resonating floral note, with impressive energy, slow-building tannins and lingering blue fruit character. (31% new French oak); February, 2020 (Josh Raynolds)

 

Wine Advocate | 93 
This is made of 100% Mouvèdre aged 18 months in 31% new French oak. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Mourvèdre gives up fresh blackcurrants and black cherries, mint leaves, loamy earth, cured meats, garrigue and dried lavender on the nose. It’s medium to full-bodied with intense, dark fruits, a firm frame and good freshness to lift the finish. Give this another few years in bottle. 230 cases produced. -February 2020 (Erin Brooks)

2015 Mourvèdre

Catapult Vineyard, Paso Robles
75% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache
Co-fermented 100% whole cluster in one 1-ton bin
Aged 19 months in French oak barrels and puncheons
Release Fall 2018 | unfined and unfiltered

 

Wine Advocate | 95+
A new cuvée from Epoch, the 2015 Mourvèdre Catapult Vineyard comes from a site planted in 2008 that’s somewhat cooler than the Paderewski Vineyard. It’s a beautiful wine, bursting from the glass with complex aromas of potpourri, wild berries, cinnamon and asphalt. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, layered and super concentrated, with a taut, vibrant core of crunchy fruit. It’s going to demand some time to unwind, but it’s very impressive. – May 2018 (William Kelley)

 

Jeb Dunnuck | 94
The 2015 Mourvèdre checks in as 75/25 split of Mourvèdre and Grenache that wasn’t destemmed and brought up in a mix of vessels. It offers beautiful notes of black and blue fruits, ground pepper, leafy herbs, and assorted meatiness. With a ripe, layered, sexy style, as well as full-bodied richness and depth, drink it anytime over the coming decade. – November 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)

 

Vinous | 94
(all whole clusters) Bright purple. Smoke-accented cherry and blueberry aromas are complemented by suggestions of candied licorice, incense and five-spice powder. Supple and broad on entry and then more taut in the midpalate, offering deeply concentrated but lively dark fruit liqueur, mocha and spicecake flavors and a hint of candied violet. Closes on a sweet blue fruit note, showing impressive persistence and building tannins. – September 2018 (Josh Raynolds)