From: Fiefs Vendéens, Loire Valley, France
Blend: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Negrette and Gamay
Taste: The 2022 J. Mourat Collection Rosé is pretty irresistible with tons of freshness, and flavors of redcurrant, rainier cherries, wild raspberries and strawberries, with a delightful, stony minerality to the palate. It has a ton of energy in the glass, and its bright acidity is refreshing without feeling like it'll give you heartburn—super quaffable and very fun!
Pairing: This would be wonderful with a bright salad with arugula, strawberries (especially when in season) and crumbles of goat cheese. The pairing that we recommended with its red wine counterpart would also work wonderfully for this rosé. If you didn't see it, it's by Ethan Tyo & adapted by Kevin Noble Maillard. The recipe is featured in NYT Cooking's On Remote Farms and in City Gardens, a Native American Movement Grows, and is titled Three Sisters Bean Patties With Raspberry Aioli.
About. Winery notes: "Terroir- Rhyolite soil. Grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Négrette, Gamay Noir, Average age of vines-15 years. The Mourat name has always been associated with wine: from wine makers and salt makers on the Ile de Ré until the end of the 19th century, then as wine merchants on the Sables d’Olonne for three generations. It wasn’t until 1974 that Jean Mourat created the vineyard which would become the Chateau Marie du Fou. In 1998 Jéremie joined him to pursue the adventure by creating two new vineyards: Le Clos Saint André, which was established in 2006; followed by Le Moulin Blanc, in 2011. The past 10 years have also seen all the vineyards converted, or in the process of being converted, to organic production. A.O.C. Fiefs Vendéens: Mareuil-sur-Lay is situated on an ancient fault-line at the point where three ecosystems meet: the Lucon lowland, the Marais Poitevin and the Bocage Vendéen. The land is composed of schistes and rhyolites, influenced by the Maritime climate. The Vendée benefits from a cosmopolitan vineyard which traditionally combines a mixture of vine varieties from the Loire Valley and the South-West of France."
J. Mourat's Collection Rosé is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Gamay from vines that average 20 years of age, grown on soils of schist and rhyolite, silica-rich volcanic rock. All grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, then aged in tank for 5 months before bottling.
