Circumstance Mourvedre 2020

An elegant rendition of this normally unruly varietal. Features raspberry, dark fruit with herbal and graphite notes whilst an almost meaty, wild aroma can be detected on the nose. Typical vigor expected from this varietal, with a high concentration of fine tannin and a surprising lightness of touch helped by the lower alcohol.

Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. Bunches are sorted and whole-bunch fermentation happens spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters. Manual punch-downs or foot-pressing take place 1-2 times per day and the wine is left on skins for 30 days before going through malolactic fermentation in old 600 litre barrels then ageing for 16 months in the same vessels. No fining, just a light filtration. No additions other than sulphur. 10 barrels made.

30 months in old 600l French oak barrels