Peter Mullin’s 1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 2011. He not only has his own world-class car museum in Oxnard, California, but is chairman of the Petersen museum in Los Angeles. He is working on a plant to create a collector-car destination in England and in his spare time has produced his first batch of wine from his vineyards in Italy.
“Mullin Estate Wines combines my two passions: the art of the automobile and the art of winegrowing,” Mullin is quoted in the announcement of his first three wines. “I’m thrilled to introduce these fine wines to the world so that car enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs alike can appreciate the inspiration behind each bottle.”
Those first three wines are red, and are to be joined later this year by Mullin’s first white wine. The initial reds are:
• 2016 Rosso Umbria IGT, “the youngest and most versatile of the family, the ‘little’ Rosso Umbria is inspired by the 1930 Bugatti Type 46 Cabriolet — Mrs. Mullin’s personal choice. Best paired with simply prepared red meat, pasta with ragout and roasted poultry, this red blend is full bodied with an intense flavor and smooth tannins.”
• 2016 Syrah Umbria IGT, “like the 1937 Talbot-Lago Type 150-C-S ‘Teardrop,’ the Syrah Umbria is elegant, serious and powerful. Delicious with braised red meat, steaks and seasonal cheeses, this wine has a round and silky flavor composition with equally round and rich tannins.”
• 2016 Sangiovese Umbria IGT, “made with the best selection of grapes in limited quantities, Sangiovese is the leading indigenous grape of both Tuscany and Umbria. It is the crown jewel of the collection, much like its 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic counterpart. With deep, warm flavors of plum, spices, dark chocolate and tobacco, this wine has good minerality and a very long-lasting taste.”
Mullin’s Doglio vineyard is near the medieval hilltop town of Todi in the “green heart” of Italy. The local viticulture dates to the Etruscans growing grapes thousands of years ago. Mullin’s wines are guided by third-generation winemaker Paolo Trappolini.
For details, see the Mullin Estate Wines website.
