Mourvèdre

**Mourvèdre** is a red grape of Spanish origin, at home around Valencia and Murcia, where it is called Monastrell. Late-ripening and sun-loving, it thrives in hot, dry climates and lends structure to many southern French and Spanish blends. **In the glass** — a deeply coloured, muscular wine with blackberry, black pepper, dried herbs and a distinctive gamey, earthy note. Tannins are dense and grippy, acidity moderate, and the body full. **Where it grows** — it stars in Bandol on France's Mediterranean coast and adds backbone to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and other Rhône blends (the M in GSM). As Monastrell it makes robust, affordable reds across southeastern Spain, and it also does well in California and Australia, often labelled Mataro. **At the table** — pairs well with braised beef, wild boar, and hearty stews. **Cellaring** — its firm tannins and structure let the best examples, especially Bandol, age gracefully for well over a decade.

Wines

• Abracadabra — Chemin des Rêves
• Abracadabra Rouge — Chemin des Rêves
• Alma Mater GSM — Matervini
• Antonin et Louis — Mas de la Seranne
• Arboussas Rouge — Coston
• Ballycroft — Ballycroft Vineyard & Cellars
• Bandol Rouge — La Bastide Blanche
• Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages — Michel Chapoutier
• Binquillon — Alain Ignace
• Bonne Pioche — Domaine Clavel
• Cabrières Cabanon — Fulcrand
• Carmin Brillant — Le Clos de Caveau
• Champs Libres 'Roaix' — Domaine Elodie Balme
• Chateau Valmont l'Aventure — Ruhlmann
• Château La Sauvageonne Grand Vin — Gérard Bertrand
• Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape — Château de Beaucastel (Famille Perrin)
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape — Château Sixtine Cuvée du Vatican
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape — E. Guigal
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape — Château Mont-Redon
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape — Les Grandes Pièces