2010 Forsythe Vineyard (Alban Vineyards) Mourvèdre The Mason
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Forsythe is 100% Mourvedre that comes from a small plot of decomposed sandstone soils. Classic Mourvedre with its beef blood, broth, spice and savory dark fruits, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, solid concentration and bright acidity. There’s no shortage of structure here and this needs cellar time to round into form. Give it 2-3 years and drink bottles through 2025. Its one of the top examples of the variety being made in California today. This is another incredible lineup by Rhone superstar John Alban. For the life of me, I can’t understand why no one else in the Edna Valley tries to make wine anywhere close to this level of quality. Tel. (805) 546-0305; www.albanvineyards.com
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The just-bottled 2010 The Mason possesses remarkable depth and intensity. Dark blue and black-toned fruits, menthol, violets and cloves all meld together in a sumptuous, powerful wine built on pure resonance. White flowers, blood orange, spice and floral notes all add lift as the wine opens up in the glass. The 2010 will almost certainly be even better than this note suggests once it comes together more fully. The 2010 was bottled the day before this tasting. In 2010, The Mason is 50% Mourvèdre, 40% Syrah and 10% Grenache.