2018 “Twinkle” Mourvèdre - Donkey & Goat Winery

Crunchy raspberry, black tea, underripe blueberry. Tart plum, compost pile, bilberry kombucha. Sour cherry, crushed cranberry, and boysenberry highlight an incredibly vibrant and extroverted fruit core lovingly bolstered by violets and fresh purple flowers. Damp earth, peat moss, and sarsaparilla swiftly emerge revealing an earthy underbelly and mild barnyard funk to playfully combat the bright electric fruit. Notes of black pepper and shaved ginger arise to impart an excitingly spicy edge while tobacco leaf, overgrowth, and grilled red meat expose a slightly savory herbal twist. Raw, eccentric, and unbelievably fun; packed with lively complexity and cheerful natural character at a mere 11.4% ABV. Mouth-filling yet light in body with elevated tannin and powerful acidity. This 2018 "Twinkle" Mourvèdre by Donkey & Goat Winery is an eclectic, intriguing, and delicious red from El Dorado County.

Although pure-varietal Mourvèdre is often crafted in a deep, brooding, and serious style, this unique dark-skinned grape is actually extraordinarily adaptable in its presentation. This bottling, crafted by Donkey & Goat Winery using Mourvèdre sourced from the El Dorado sub-appellation of California's Sierra Foothills, showcases this grape at its freshest, juiciest, and most vibrant. Despite its modest weight this wine is absolutely packed with a cornucopia of tart berry fruit that gushes with unpretentious exuberance. Its spicy, herbal, and earthy complexity is also quite admirable and is all tied together by a subtle yet charming dose of what can only be described as "natty funk". This is an extremely tasty and enjoyable offering we discovered thanks to our friends at Rae Vino.