249: Bandol Wine and the Magic of Mourvèdre with Author Dr. Andy James

How does Mourvèdre taste different from other southern French grapes that also produce full-bodied red wines? Did you know that Mourvèdre can age for up to 40 years but has stages where it shuts down completely? What would a 20-year-old Rosé taste like?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Andy James, author of Bandol Wine and the Magic of Mourvèdre.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Three of you are going to win a personally signed copy of Andy James' terrific new book, Bandol Wine and the Magic of Mourvèdre. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and tell me that you’d like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

What was it that drew Andy to make the move to Japan?

Why did Andy write books about Kingsley Amis and Graham Greene?

Why might you enjoy visiting the southern French town of Bandol for your next wine holiday?

What inspired Andy to write about Bandol wines?

What’s the format of Andy’s latest book, Bandol Wine and the Magic of Mourvèdre, and how does it differ from previous books about Bandol wines?

What’s it like to taste a 20-year-old Rosé?

Do Rosés have good aging capacity?

How much of the Bandol wine industry is attributed to Rosé production?

What surprising results came out of a blind tasting of €3 and €23 Bandol wines?

Which characteristics can you expect from the Mourvèdre grape in its youth?

What changes will you notice as Mourvèdre ages?

Why should you take the cork out of your Mourvèdre a day or two before drinking?

Key Takeaways

Andy gave a great description of how Mourvèdre tastes different from other full-bodied southern French red wines. I understand why it also often needs a blending partner.

I found it interesting that Mourvèdre can age for up to 40 years but has stages where it shuts down completely. I’m also going to try his suggestion of removing the cork for a day or two next time I open a bottle to see if it makes a difference.

I would have never thought a 20-year-old Rosé would even be drinkable let alone have some interesting taste components and contrasts.

Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live

Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.

I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?

Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621

About Andy James

Andrew James is a Canadian who received a doctorate in 20th century English literature from Ulster University. He is currently a professor in the School of Commerce at Meiji University in Tokyo. He is the author of a monograph on Kingsley Amis and numerous essays on literature, biography and literary theory, but he is also a wine lover.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/249.