Offering wines aromas of black fruits and spices, Mourvèdre can sometimes be reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon. However, this black grape variety with its strong character stands out by producing red wines and rosé gastronomic wines. Discover all the secrets of Mourvèdre .
To find out more about grape varieties, we invite you to read our grape variety guide .
The origins of Mourvèdre
The origins of Mourvèdre are not very defined, but all experts agree that it originated in Spain . On the other hand, if some think that it comes from the small town of Murviedro, in the province of Valencia, others suppose that it has a link with another grape variety from Catalonia, Mataro.
Still, this black grape variety arrived in France during the 16th century, probably thanks to pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. Towards the end of the 1800s, Mourvèdre was present in many vineyards, particularly in Provence and around the Mediterranean . Unfortunately, the phylloxera crisis wreaked havoc on this grape variety, and Mourvèdre was not cultivated for more than 40 years. It was then supplanted by more resistant grape varieties, before regaining favor with winegrowers in the 1960s.
Today, Mourvèdre is a dominant grape variety in Spain . In France, it is present on just under 10,000 hectares of vines, mainly in the Rhône Valley (thanks to the reintegration of the grape variety by Jacques Perrin in the 1950s), Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence. In the world, it is also found in the United States, Australia, but also in Tunisia.
The particularities of Mourvèdre
Sometimes called "negron", "monastrell", "morastrell" or even "plan de Saint-Gilles", Mourvèdre is a demanding grape variety , but if the winegrower takes care of it, it becomes a plant of particularly robust character, which is perfectly designed to produce wines for keeping .
In the vineyards, we recognize Mourvèdre by its 3-lobed leaves and its conical, compact clusters. Quality grapes have a thick skin of a beautiful bluish-black color, covered with bloom. In the mouth, the flesh of Mourvèdre is juicy and tender, but also slightly bitter.
Rather fragile, this southern grape variety thrives in hot climates , and its maturation is very slow. The late harvest never begins before the end of September, or even in October. And if it is not very sensitive to gray rot, mites, water stress and acid rot are often catastrophic for it.
Wines from Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre is rarely used as a single varietal, and is often found in blended wines with Syrah or Grenache. It then makes it possible to produce excellent red wines and rosé wines , and in particular great wines from several AOCs:
- AOC Cassis;
- AOC Côtes de Provence;
- AOC Coteaux Varois in Provence;
- AOC Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence;
- AOC Palette;
- AOC Bandol;
- AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape;
- AOC Côtes-du-Rhône;
- AOC Les Baux-de-Provence.
Under these appellations, Mourvèdre is then blended with Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, or even Cinsault. The thick, highly pigmented skin gives the wines an intense red color, while the structure of the Mourvèdre offers great complexity and excellent aging potential.
When tasting, Mourvèdre red wines reveal notes of pepper, roasting and caramel, but also aromas of black fruits and vegetal notes. With age, they take on more complex aromas and powerful tannins. As for Mourvèdre rosé wines , they are distinguished by their pretty salmon color and their aromatic palette with fruity and floral notes, subtly spicy. Mourvèdre generally produces excellent rosé gastronomic wines.
What food and Mourvèdre wine pairings?
Mourvèdre wine has a lot of character, so it must be accompanied by generous dishes rich in intense aromas. The spicy notes work wonders with red meats (rib of beef, stew...), or even with game (wild boar, venison...).
As for Mourvèdre rosé wines, it is recommended to serve them with a charcuterie platter (coppa, sausage, etc.), but their great freshness also allows them to tastefully accompany spicy cuisine , such as couscous or a tagine. . Mourvèdre varietal wines are also delicious with Provençal cuisine.
Our wines made from Mourvèdre
The oenologists of our Provence estates have mastered the delicate cultivation of Mourvèdre to perfection, and ensure the production of quality red and rosé wine , blended with other varieties of black berries.
- Le Pigeonnier rosé 2022 - AOP Côtes de Provence : this blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle offers a wine with aromas of white fruits and stone fruits, perfect for an aperitif, or to accompany a noble fish;
- Château Saint-Roux rosé 2022 - AOP Côtes de Provence : this organic wine with a pretty intense pink color is fresh and structured on the palate. The complexity of its structure and its aromas of ripe fruit are particularly tasty with goat cheese, Mediterranean cuisine, or even as an aperitif;
- Le Pigeonnier rouge 2022 - AOP Côtes de Provence : this balanced and structured organic red wine displays a beautiful carmine color. Its aromas of red fruits, pepper and spices are excellent with characterful cheeses or cooked meats.
Relatively little present in France and around the world, Mourvèdre nevertheless benefits from a unique character which offers red and rosé wines exceptional qualities.
