2009 Lirac and Tavel from Domaine de la Mordoree

Mordoree, Image from Kysela Pere et Fils

Christopher Delorme’s father was a huntsman so named his estate after the local name for woodcock, Mordoree.  La Dame Rousse translates as “The Redheaded Lady” and La Reine de Bois as the “Queen of the Woods.”  This is a relatively young estate created in 1986.  He started with 5 hecateres in Chateauneuf du Pape and has now expanded to 60 hectares in eight districts.  Last year he began the 3-year process for biologic certification.

Geological profile of Lirac, Image from Mordoree

The domaine attemps to be as natural as possible.  To encourage natural bacteria, worms, and insects they incorporate wood and plant debris, and straw.  Nothing is divulged on how the wines are vinified.  It is purposefully kept a secret.

Geological profile of Tavel, Image from Mordoree

The wines of Mordoree are imported by Kysela Pere et Fils and are readily available at Calvert-Woodley and MacArthurs.  The Lirac is $18 and the Tavel is normally $22 but I bought the final bottle from last year’s vintage for $10!  I’ll have to try the current vintage to see if I made a good purchase.  Normally I would not recommend buying a one year old rose but this Tavel is more like a very light red wine.

2009 Domaine de la Mordoree, La Dame Rousse, Tavel
This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, and 10% Clairette from 40 year old vines.  The vineyard  soil is comprise of clay and chalk mixed with sand and pebble stones.  The grapes are harvested by hand.  This bottle was drunk over two nights.  It has a very vibrant, cranberry color in the bottle.  It is very, very light with a tinge of garnet.  There is a light+ nose with lots of tight, sharp red aromas, cherries, and minerals.  In the mouth it is a medium-bodied wine with some sweet, creamy red flavors, gobs of minerals, and a bit of heat.  It is definitely robust for a rose.  It drank well over two nights and is certainly a good value at $10.  ** Now.

2009 Mordoree, La Dame Rousse, Lirac

2009 Domaine de la Mordoree, La Dame Rousse, Lirac
This wine is a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah from 50 year old vines.  The vineyard soil is comprised of clay, chalk with clay, and limestone and sand with pebble stones.  The grapes are harvested by hand.  This is a dark wine.  The nose shows primary, dark red fruit.  In the mouth there are more dark fruits in this dense wine.  It is a modern style, very tight and ungiving.  There are plenty of new tannins.  With several hours of air gritty, purple fruit flavors develop and some inkiness.  This seriously needs to be aged.  For similar cost I prefer the 2009 Bastide St. Dominique, Jules Rochebonne which is showing more complexity in its youth. **(*) 2017-2022.