Marvellous Mourvedre - Two-Bottle Pairing

This two-bottle pairing option has 1x each of the following wines:

2018 La Bolida - Chateau d’Or et de Gueules

Chateau d'Or et de Gueules has been recognized among the top 100 Best Wineries in the World by Wine and Spirits magazine. The dedication to quality, the commitment to innovation, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence make Dianne’s domaine a true gem in the world of wine. All her wines are consistently spectacular and exhibit a superb clarity, richness, texture, depth of fruit, elegance, and puissance.

Her la Bolida comes from her oldest vineyard with vines approaching 100 years of age and yields of 8hl/ha taken from four separate tries. It is fermented and aged in oak and is utterly spectacular. 90% Mourvèdre, this hand-picked gem undergoes a long fermentation process with pigeage, followed by 12 months ageing in barrels and is bottled with no fining or filtration.

Lovely aromas of ground cassia and raspberries give way to a medium to full-bodied palate loaded with complex briary fruit, intense tannins and a long, richly textured finish. The density and ripeness of the intoxicating fruit flavours are truly remarkable, whilst a pleasant mineral line offers a welcome freshness and levity. It has evolved gracefully over the last 5 years and is an absolute delight to drink now. However, should one choose this will continue to age gracefully for another 5-10 years.

2019 Bandol Rouge

The specific Mediterranean microclimate in Bandol, the spiritual home of Mourvedre, brings warm weather and no shortage of sun. However it is uniquely tempered by the persistent Mistral winds, which permeate down from the Southern Rhone. This allows Alain to leave his grapes, to reach incredibly high levels of maturity on the vines, resulting in a remarkable intensity and purity of fruit.

Alain’s Mourvèdre blends are known for their power, spiciness, and impressive ability to age. Like all exceptional Bandols, they maintain a fresh and vibrant quality infused with hints of salt and herbs. Aged for 18 months in giant old foudre, Alain’s 2019 vintage boasts an intensely aromatic profile of wild berry fruit and savoury garrigue herbs. On the palate it showcases a refined focus and grippy tannins, courtesy of the high-quality Mourvèdre grapes in the blend.

These elements come together harmoniously, lending a dignified astringency to the finish that is complemented by abundant fruit flavours. Layers of tobacco, spice, and a touch of liquorice add complexity to the wine. It strikes a balance between earthiness and elegance, displaying remarkable character and offering substantial depth that will continue to evolve for many more years to come.