Raj Parr Wines Lime Kiln Valley Anika Mourvèdre 2018

Celebrated sommelier and winemaker Raj Parr has long been revered for his pursuit of purity and site expression. For many years, he crafted a series of singular, small-batch bottlings under his wine club label — often one-off releases exploring exceptional vineyard parcels tucked into the cool, coastal pockets of California. Fermented with native yeasts and bottled with little to no added SO₂, these wines are defined by transparency, vitality, and a vivid sense of place.

The Anika Mourvèdre is made from very old Mourvèdre vines grown in the Lime Kiln Valley, within the San Benito County, in California's Central Coast. Located about 18 miles from the coast, the valley benefit from a Mediterranean climate while the soil is predominantly sandy and gravelly loam over a bedrock of limestone. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and aged for several months in neutral French oak puncheons.

On the nose, this Mourvèdre reveals vibrant aromatics of blackberry and dark plum, framed by spice and a gentle savoury note of black olive tapenade. The palate is medium-bodied and finely textured, with juicy dark fruit lifted by lively acidity and subtle peppery spice. A fresh, focused core of black fruit and savoury complexity carries through to a long, satisfying finish.