From: Dead Poplar Vineyard, Yakima, WA
Varietal: Mourvedre
Taste: The resulting wine is a beautiful, deep ruby color with aromas of fresh berries like dark cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and violets with an undercurrent of savory, earthy, mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and fresh, with bright flavors of cherries, black currant and pomegranate along with a hint of cinnamon, dried herb and spice. The wine's low tannins make it an easy drinking wine, perfect for sipping on its own or pairing with a variety of dishes.
Pairing: So. Many. Things. Frankly, you don’t necessarily need food here, but since wine and food are such natural lovers… here’s a list of ideas! This album-inspired reds’ low tannins and refreshing acidity make it an excellent choice to pair with lighter fare, such as grilled fish, roasted chicken, or vegetable-based dishes. For a classic pairing, try serving this wine with a charcuterie board featuring cured meats, soft cheeses, and olives (our favorite way to go & we’re sharing Kay Chun’s take on a board below!). The fruit-forward flavors of the wine complement the salty and savory flavors of the charcuterie, while the low tannins and refreshing acidity cut through the richness of the cheese and meats. If you're in the mood for something a bit more substantial, consider pairing this wine with grilled lamb chops or a hearty vegetable stew. The bold flavors of the lamb and the rich, earthy flavors of the stew complement the fruit flavors of the wine, while the low tannins and refreshing acidity help to balance out the dish.
Charcuterie Board
By Kay Chun
About. The world of wine is always evolving, with new vintages and varieties constantly being introduced to the market. One such example is the 2021 Upside Down Mourvedre The Carbonic from Dead Poplar Vineyard in Washington State.
This unique wine is made using the carbonic maceration method, which is a technique that involves fermenting whole grapes in a carbon dioxide-rich environment before crushing them. This process results in a wine that is light-bodied and fruit-forward, with low tannins and a bright acidity- you’d usually find this style of wine in say, Beaujolais Nouveau, and when done with a varietal like Mourvedre, well, the result is crushable, savory, and delicious!
As we stated, this wine was made using the Mourvedre grape, which is typically grown in the Rhone Valley region of France. However, this particular varietal is also grown in the Dead Poplar Vineyard in Washington State, which is known for producing high-quality grapes that are full of flavor.
About the Dead Poplar Vineyard. At the very tail end of Yakima Valley AVA is our Dead Poplar Vineyard. On the south side of the valley this vineyard sits looking North on sandy soils. Before the ancient Yakima River was rerouted it backed up and deposited loads or gravel, sand, and silt on our vineyard. The combination of very fine soil translates to a pleasurable wine texture that combines with the beautiful aromatics from the wild flora we allow to infiltrate our vineyard. The wines show extreme finesse and carry beautiful profiles extremely unique for Washington State.
“Fresh, fine tannins, linear, floral”
– James Suckling
“Rocking Boquet, Seamless texture, Fine tannins, Loamy sandy soil notes, Impressive, Beautiful, Unique.”
– Jeb Dunnuck
“Dusty red plum, Savory, Sweet tobacco, Lingering finish, Absolutely enjoyable.”
–Anthony Mueller
