2021 Mourvedre Old Garden
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Old Garden Mourvèdre is from vines planted in 1853, acknowledged as being the oldest Mourvèdre vineyard on the planet. On own roots, these vines in 2024 have endured more than 17 decades in the ground, through untold human trials and tribulations, to bring us the fruit that we have here today. It is momentous, and it bears thinking about when we consider the significance of old-vine fruit in modern cuvées. Aromatically, the wine leads with Amaro herbs and dark chocolate, some dampness reminiscent of underground—moss and lichen perhaps—raw cocoa, bay leaf, chewing tobacco, mulberry, iodine and freshly turned earth. In the mouth, the wine is thick with tannin but fortified by less oak than I would have expected—a fine thing—which allows the fruit to hero the piece. It's certainly a concentrated, substantial wine, but the flavor is borne by fruit, not vessel. This is magnificent. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.
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Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
Angus Hughson, Vinous
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The 2021 Mourvèdre Old Garden is sourced from the oldest Mourvèdre vines in the world, overlooking Jacob's Creek. Thanks to the cooler vintage, it's beautifully complex, although slightly more restrained than usual. Bright and understated, it offers up aromas of roasted meats, dried herbs and gamey/old leather over a rich vein of dark cherry and graphite flavors. The acidity is bright with great energy, and the fruit is still unfolding but promises plenty with time in bottle. Ancient vines are on display thanks to superb length, although tannins are more integrated at a young age than usual, suggesting a wine best enjoyed over the medium term.