Grower's Corner

Mourvedre: From Chateau de Beaucastel to David Girard Vineyards
by Ron Mansfield

 

Mourvedre is native to Spain, where it is known as Monastrell and is second only to Grenache in importance.  From the Spanish town of Murviedro, near Valencia, Mourvedre was brought to Provence in the late Middle Ages where, prior to the phylloxera invasion at the end of the 19th century, it was the dominant varietal.  The phylloxera invasion was particularly devastating to Mourvedre.  Mourvedre proved to be very difficult to graft with existing phylloxera-resistant rootstocks.  Thus, when vineyards were replanted, growers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and other southern Rhone areas chose to replant to other varieties that were easier to graft, such as Grenache.  For decades, Mourvedre was found almost exclusively in the sandy (and phylloxera-free) soil of Bandol, on the French Mediterranean coast where it is bottled as a red ) blended with Grenache and Cinsault) and as a dry rose.  Compatible rootstocks for Mourvedre were developed after World War II.  Shortly thereafter, Jaques Perrin of Chateau de Beaucastel led regeneration efforts in southern France and made Mourvedre a primary grape in the red Beaucastel wines. 

Mourvedre came to California as Mataro in the mid to late 1800’s.  It was first planted in Contra Costa County.  Until recently, the grape was rarely bottled by itself, and was instead generally used as a component of field blends.  Now however, the increasing popularity and prestige of Rhone varietals and a return to the French Mourvedre name has given the varietal new life.  Currently about 400 acres are planted in California.

Our Mourvedre vines were planted in 2002.  The budwood source for the vines is Chateau de Beaucastel in France.  The vines were propogated for us by Tablas Creek Vneyards (who also provided the history lesson of the previous two paragraphs) near Paso Robles.  Mourvedre is a late ripening varietal that loves warm summer / fall temperatures.  As such, we have planted it on our warmest southwest facing hilltop.  The coarse sandy soil here (similar to soils in Bandol) is perfectly suited to growing the highest quality Mourvedre,.  Our vines are moderately vigorous, upright growers and are well suited to “head training.” With this type vine structure we can strictly limit crop yields to approximately 3 tons per acre in order to provide good concentration and expression of flavors.  Our wines made from Mourvedre are well colored, rich and smooth with a long cellar life.  Tannins are ripe and friendly.  These wines release wonderful aromas while presenting earthy and dark, dried fruit flavors.