Jeff’s Corner

Today is Mosaic day; Hey, Hey, Hey! Mosaic has long been Kathy’s favorite GCV wine, and I certainly would never argue with her. The new 2014 vintage is about to be released, and as I type this I’m eagerly awaiting her arrival from the vineyard so we can taste and talk about it. Along with Serendipity, it is our most full-bodied red wine.

Mosaic is a “Bordeaux-style” wine, and people often ask me what that means. Well, the phrase “Bordeaux-style” has no legal, regulatory definition, but it implies that the wine is a proprietary blend of grapes indigenous to the Bordeaux region of southwest France. These grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

Sometimes Bordeaux-style blends are referred to as “Meritage” wines, which does have a legal definition. The word “Meritage” (a combination of merit and heritage) was the winner of an international competition held in 1988 to designate a premium, exclusive wine made from Bordeaux grapes. There were over 6000 entries.

The Meritage Alliance has strict rules dictating what can be called a Meritage wine with regard to the type of grapes in it, percentages of each, and quantity produced. A winery must be a member of the Alliance to say Meritage on the label, and that costs lots of $$$.

Our new Mosaic continues the trend of outstanding wines from the 2014 vintage. The ABV is 13.8 %, and the wine is 35.75% Cabernet Franc, 34.75% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29.5% Merlot. This is the first vintage I remember with Cab Franc being the dominant grape.

The color is a rich purple/garnet, and while less lean and austere than the 2013 it shows much more fruit. It is a complex tapestry of aromas and flavors that include black cherry, blackberry, licorice, cocoa, and tobacco. After about 30 minutes in the glass, sensual aromas of caramelized vanilla emerge reminiscent of creme brûlée.

The finish is soft and elegant, with fruit, acid, oak, and tannin all well integrated. One definition of the word mosaic is “a combination of diverse elements forming a coherent whole”. That works pretty well for me!

Kath and I will be at the coast next week, so I’ll see you all on 7-20 when we visit our new Merlot. “I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.”