Cuillin Hills Winery, established in 2004, is a family-owned and operated boutique winery located in Woodinville, Washington. Winemaker, Derek DesVoigne, is commited to produce small lots of distinct wines. One of the wines I purchased last year while on a trip to Washington state, and just opened, is their Cuillin Hills Mourvedre 2008.
Mourvedre is not the most common grape to find in many North American wine shops on it’s own. The grape is grown typically in the Rhone Valley and Provence regions of France, and in Australia in Spain. To a lesser degree you can find it in California and Washington states. In the Rhone Valley it is blended with Syrah and Grenache to make a “GSM” blend.
My Tasting Notes
Cuillin Hills Winery Mourvedre 2008 – Deep ruby colour with a solid core. Juicy plum, cassis and black fruit, along with vanilla and sweet spice notes on the nose. Full body, dry, and round, with medium mouth feel and a higher level of acidity. Juicy dark fruits and violets on the palette followed with sour cherries and plums, cocoa and spice on the mid palate to finish. Soft tannins. Long length. I quite enjoyed this wine, sipping it on it’s own, but I could imagine pairing it with a grilled or roasted red meat, with roasted vegetables and potatoes.
