Production
The Bridgehead Vineyard was chosen for the 2021 Late Harvest Mourvèdre. This ancient vineyard planted in 1920 directly into deep sandy soil where we are able to dry farm and also benefits from the drying winds that blow through Contra Costa County. The vineyard carries a light crop due to its extreme age and as a result it ripens and then naturally dehydrates into raisins with an extremely high sugar content before rain or moisture can cause rotting. Working with ultra ripe and raisiny fruit to make this delicious wine had it’s challenges. The yield of concentrated grape juice from these dehydrated berries was about half of what we attained from the grapes we used to make their usual dry Mourvèdre wines. The initial sugar reading indicated about 29 degrees Brix (% soluble solids) but as the grapes steeped in their juices the sugar levels increased each day until they arrived at 35.2 degrees Brix. The wine is pumped over and allowed to ferment as far as it can, so the wine finishes at a natural balance of sugar, alcohol and acid.
Tasting notes
This wine is luxuriously sweet and divinely tempting. Layers of plum, chocolate and raspberry and prunes that are beautifully balanced with a firm structure of acid and fine grained tannins.
Food match
It is a wonderful accompaniment to rich chocolatey desserts like chocolate mousse, brie with mango chutney, or salted caramel chocolate squares. The kind of wine the guests don’t expect but are very grateful to receive.
