BEDROCK 2009 ROSE OF MOURVEDRE
“Ode to Lulu”, Sonoma Valley
290 cases produced, 13.2% alcohol
Last year the “Ode to Lulu” received 90 points from both Wine Spectator and Tanzer, the highest score given for rose. The 2009 vintage may be even better, according to winemaker Morgan Peterson.
The Mourvedre for this wine comes from 120 year old vines yielding 2.5 tons per acre. It was picked in the last week of September at 22.5 brix, after which it was destemmed, immediately pressed and squeezed off to tank. The “Ode to Lulu” was fermented cold with native yeasts and stayed on its lees through ML. This method is common practice in Bandol, which is where the inspiration for this wine comes from, the “Lulu” being Lulu Peyraud of Domaine Tempier. This Mourvedre shows aromatics of bright red fruits with red currant, cherry pit, white flowers and orange peel. There is a creaminess in the mid-palate of this wine and a dusty minerality on the lengthy finish. This wine is atypical of what you normally think of when you approach a rose. There are none of the bright strawberry notes, but rather a rich and creamy red cherry character with less acidity than usual. Its mineral texture makes it great for heartier foods.
The Bedrock winery makes their wines in a converted chicken coop. Only top quality grapes are hand pitch-forked into open topped redwood and stainless steel vats, and fermented using only native yeasts. The wines are then manually basket pressed into French oak. Morgan Peterson describes the wine making at Bedrock as “Cro-Magnum,” meaning the process is rudimentary and pure. They take a very hands on and manual approach to wine making, which means that they become intimately familiar with every wine. It may be slow, time-consuming and messy, but it is ultimately very effective at producing wines with great precision, focus, delicacy and food friendliness.
This year at Hospice du Rhone, 2011
Joining the stellar 2011 Seminar Series will be Joey Tensley of Tensley representing the Santa Barbara growing region and from another famous corner of California will be Morgan Twain-Peterson of Bedrock Wine Co. sharing tastes from the North Coast. Both tout a strong obsession with Syrah and a passion for multiple vineyard sourcing. Together they will share their Syrahs and additional Rhône varieties along with stories of how they have become staunch Rhône advocates and winemakers.
