Samuel's Gorge Mourvèdre

Samuel’s Gorge Mourvèdre 2023 from Samuel’s Gorge in McLaren Vale is a seductive, medium‑weight Mourvèdre that leans into spice, florals and plush dark fruit with a distinctly savoury edge. It opens with heady rose petals, sandalwood, star anise and coconut husk on the nose, followed by delicious plum, cassis and cinnamon, giving a beautifully layered aromatic profile that makes you want to dive straight in. On the palate you’ll find toasted walnuts, blackberry and leather, carried on youthful acidity that lets the wine glide effortlessly across the tongue, keeping it lively rather than heavy.

Mourvèdre here is treated as the Mediterranean spice specialist – plush fruit, alluring spice and underlying meatiness, all framed with Samuel’s Gorge’s small‑batch, hands‑on winemaking. The 2023 vintage sits in a “lively and round” style: plenty of flavour and complexity, but still medium in weight, with that savoury, nutty, leathery detail adding real interest. It’s ranked among the top Mourvèdre releases from South Australia, noted for both quality and value.

Samuel’s Gorge Mourvèdre 2023 is superb with oven‑roasted celeriac, lentils, hazelnuts and fresh mint – a pairing suggested by the winery – and will also shine with lamb, gamey meats, chargrilled veg and earthy, nutty dishes. Its combination of spice, plum, cassis and leather makes it a great choice for rich winter stews and hard cheeses too. Serve it just below room temperature to show off the aromatics and keep the acidity and tannins beautifully in balance.