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Item Number: 7403
UPC: 0091037062024
Country: USA
Region: California
Appellation/AVA: California
Vintage: 2012
Grape(s): 33% Cabernet Sauvignon / 27% Syrah / 12% Carignan / 5% Cabernet Franc / 5% Grenache / 5% Touriga Nacional / 4% Petit Verdot / 3% Merlot / 3% Zinfandel / 3% Barbara
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750ml Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 14.5
Once again, Banshee is blending all kinds of crazy stuff together to make a wine that manages to be both delicious and classy while completely disregarding any boundary lines set by varietals, AVAs, or known wine reference points. It doesn’t
try to be anyone else. It just is what it is. The dude abides. Is that Zen or what?
For the 2012 vintage of Mordecai, they once again centered themselves on a roughly 50/50 base of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals highlighted by some excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from near Calistoga and cool climate mountain Syrah from Broken Leg Vineyard in Anderson Valley. These key parcels were supplemented with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Grenache.
While the base blend was probably already up to par already on its own, the signature of Mordecai has been the "other" varieties they blend to give it a certain flair. This is where the fun starts.
Banshee has fallen in love with a Carignan vineyard in Mendocino which will be an ongoing component in future Mordecais. They also went back to a Sierra Foothills source for Barbara that was in the 2011 version.
The headline grabber of this year's "spice rack" will probably the Touriga Nacional from Rockpile. This traditionally Portuguese variety possessed an amazing white flower nose that belied its red/black color. See if you can pick out that note.
The resulting wine is a unique beast. While many red blends try to bowl you over with full throttle richness and power, Mordecai wants to excite and charm you as well. It possesses a blend of both red and black fruit characteristics, bramble and
spice on a medium plus frame. The warmth of the vintage makes this one juicier than the last, but the structure is still beautifully integrated. It will drink well for a decade.
For the record: 33% Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa), 27% Syrah (Anderson Valley, Sonoma), 12% Carignan (Mendocino), 5% Cabernet Franc (Napa), 5% Grenache
(Paso), 5% Touriga Nacional (Rockpile), 4% Petit Verdot (Napa), 3% Merlot
(Napa), 3% Zinfandel (Dry Creek), 3% Barbara (Sierra Foothills)
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