2016 Gramercy Cellars L'idiot du Village
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Ah, yes, the Gramercy Mourvèdre. One hundred percent Mourvèdre, the 2016 L'Idiot du Village opens with a dusty strawberry-laced nose, with notes of soft baked earth, red cherries and subtle red spice tones. Medium-bodied, the palate shows a balanced and honest wine— without over manipulation—delivering purity of expression and pleasure, providing everything that it promises to the drinker. It ends with a subtly spiced and lingering finish that leaves me feeling happy and satisfied. Only 254 cases produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Mourvedre L'Idiot du Village is all Mourvèdre from the Alder Ridge Vineyard that was only partially destemmed (30%) and aged 19 months in neutral oak. It's slightly deeper ruby-colored and has a fresh, juicy style in its tight red fruits, red apple, earth, and exotic spice aromas and flavors. As with all the wines here, it's seamless and elegant on the palate, with fine tannins, and is going to age gracefully for 8-10 years. 254 cases. While I continue to love the wines from Gramercy Cellars, I found these latest releases, while still outstanding, to be a clear step down from previous vintages.
Good medium red. Musky scents of raspberry, peppery herbs, cinnamon, underbrush and tree bark. Juicy, lively and intense, boasting surprising retention of red berry fruit accented by pepper and spices. Finishes juicy, spicy and persistent, with a fine dusting of tannins and noteworthy energy. An uncompromising style of Mourvèdre, at once firmer and more delineated than the 2015 version. Finishes with a firm dusting of tannins and a late hint of dried flowers. This should evolve gracefully.