Podcasts Arts Wine for Normal People Ep 315: The Grape Miniseries -- Mourvedre/Monastrell

Ep 315: The Grape Miniseries -- Mourvedre/Monastrell

Published: March 2, 2020, 10:48 p.m.

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The grape miniseries continues! This time we cover the grape known as Monstrell in Spain, Mourv\\xe8dre in France, and Mataro in other parts of the world. Difficult to grow and make, when treated well the wines from this grape are unlike any other -- herbal, gamy, powerful.

The key things to know about Monastrell/Mourv\\xe8dre:

  • The grape originated in Spain, and then moved to the Roussillon, Rh\\xf4ne, and Provence in France.\\xa0It needs a lot of heat to grow, so it can only thrive in hot locations with lots of sun but ample water.
  • Flavors:\\xa0They vary greatly depending on where the wine is made, but generally it has deep color, full body, is tannic and high in alcohol.
    • Spain: can be more like red fruit -- cherries and raspberries with spice and herbs.
    • France, especially Bandol: the wines have more dark fruit (if any fruit character at all) with\\xa0spice, olives, herbs (garrigue as they call it in southern France), and a gamy, barnyard or wild animal smell to the wine. With time (3-5 years) that flavor mellows to something more akin to leather or tobacco and the tannins calm. In the new works styles are less tannic and less gamy.
  • In blends: Mourv\\xe8dre adds fullness, flavor and structure that complements the more lifted Grenache and the elegant Syrah.
  • In ros\\xe9: The grape helps these wines have longevity, lending tannin and great flavor to the wine
  • Food Pairings: Meats or root/hearty vegetables that are braised, grilled, or in a stew. Hard cheeses work too.

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Where can you find it?

France:

  • Provence: Especially Bandol, where the finest Mourv\\xe8dre is made. Producers we mentioned are\\xa0Domaine Tempier (reds and ros\\xe9), Ch\\xe2teau de Pibarnon
  • Languedoc-Roussillon:\\xa0one to watch for more varietal Mourv\\xe8dre in the future
  • Rh\\xf4ne: \\xa0in blends and especially in Ch\\xe2teauneuf-du-Pape. We mention\\xa0Beaucastel as having a high percentage of Mourv\\xe8dre

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Spain (called Monastrell)

California

Other US: \\xa0Washington State, Oregon, Arizona, TX, Virginia, Chile, South Africa

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Australia

  • Used as a component in GSMs \\xa0-- Grenache Syrah Mourv\\xe8dre blends
  • South Australia: Riverland (bulk wine), Barossa, McLaren Vale
  • New South Wales: Riverina (bulk wine area)
  • Producers making single varietal Mourv\\xe8dre:

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A\\xa0link to where I\'ll be for upcoming Wine For Normal People book signings: www.winefornormalpeople.com\\xa0

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