What?
Juice 2015 Château Mouras, Bordeaux, Graves, FRA
Grape 50% Merlot, 25% Petit Verdot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Farming Vegan
Tasting Note A lovely berry fruit on the nose with a supple texture on the palate, along with the attractive mineral character that defines the appellation of Graves. Dark fruit and spice dominate the mid-palate, providing excellent depth that is supported by firm but ripe tannins.
Who?
Whilst Jean-Christophe Barbe is mostly famous for his outstanding Sauternes, he also produces some stunning reds- albeit on a fairly small scale. The Château Mouras Graves comes from a six hectare property that lies in the Graves communes of Portets, Illats and Landiras. The Graves Supérieures is a sweet wine made from botrytised Semillon and is a superb alternative to Sauternes.
Why?
First and foremost, we think that this wine offers superb value for an expression of Graves of this calibre. As we’ve already stated in the tasting note above, the gorgeous, slightly flinty minerality at the core of the wine is the true expression of the Terroir of Graves. We challenge you to find a better example of the appellation at this price point.
With?
Having spoken at length about Graves’ famous soils and the ensuing minerality found in the wines, it would be remiss of us not to pair foods specifically to both showcase and enhance this particular character. We feel the slight smokiness of barbequed meat and/or vegetables would facilitate the above to perfection. For meats, anything from beef through to venison and/or lamb would be ideal. As for the vegetables, the smokiness of aubergine, the sweetness of peppers, or the earthiness of mushrooms would be a perfect foil for all the wine’s aforementioned attributes.
