Parentage — Ancient Spanish variety, named for Murviedro (Sagunto) and Mataró
blackberry
garrigue herbs
black pepper
game
liquorice
Budbreak
Late — escapes spring frost
Maturity
Third epoch; among the last picked, demanding sustained heat
Leaf
Medium, orbicular, five shallow lobes; downy, grey-green underside
Bunch
Medium to large, conical, compact
Berry
Medium, spherical, black with heavy bloom; thick, tannic skin
Mourvèdre is Spain's Monastrell, an ancient variety of the Levante whose two French names remember two ports of departure — Murviedro, the old name of Sagunto near Valencia, and Mataró on the Catalan coast. It crossed into Provence and the Languedoc centuries ago and settled where the proverb says it must: "head in the sun, feet in the water" — full heat above, moisture within reach of the roots.
It buds late, ripens later still, and gives dark, tannic wine of black fruit and wild herbs that turns meaty and gamey with age. It is the backbone of Bandol, where it must dominate the blend, and the M of the southern GSM triad, lending Grenache and Syrah its structure and its shadow.
In the blend
Share of this grape in a typical blend of each wine