Varietal Of The Week
/Mourvèdre
THE GRAPE
A staple of the Mediterranean, the Mourvèdre grape was probably brought Spain by the Phoenicians. It needs a warm, dry climate which is why it thrived in southern France and Spain as well as in parts of Algeria and Tunisia. It was introduced into the United States by the Pellier brothers who brought cuttings of the grape they called 'Mataro' to the Santa Clara Valley in the 1860s. There are now plantings in California, Washington, Arizona, Missouri and Virginia. Other New World growing areas include Australia and South Africa.
THE WINE
Mourvèdre is used to make both red and rosé wines in the New World and the old. The berries are small and thick skinned which gives the wines a deep rich color and a strong tannic structure. Often found in blends like, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Mourvèdre is often the back bone of the wine, but can also be found in silky, single varietal bottles as well. The flavors are deep and rich.
PERFECT PAIRINGS
Mourvèdre pairs well with grilled or roasted light meats, particularly game would be delightful but can be enjoyed with root vegetables and mushrooms too. Mourvèdre is an excellent choice to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner.
SHOP MOURVÈDRE WINESIN THE QORKZ MARKETPLACE
2013 OAK CLIFF CELLARS WILD DIAMOND MOURVEDRE
$ 32.00
2012 PREDECESSOR WON DOUBLE GOLD IN THE 2014 TEX SOM INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION AND THE 2014 RIVERSIDE INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
TASTING NOTES
Mourvedre is a grape native to Southern Rhone and typically found in Rhone blends, but rarely bottled as a single varietal. Our distinctive single varietal Mourvedre is a soft red perfumed wine with subtle flavors of blackberries and violets, a hint of clove and a dusty finish. Although this wine is a lighter style red, the fruit is bright with a surprisingly substantial mid-palate of fruit, making it a very versatile wine for a wide spectrum of foods – fish, pork, poultry and even desserts with berries.