Mourvèdre / Monastrell
Like Grenache, Mourvèdre is a full-bodied Spanish grape that wandered up the dry Mediterranean coast to France’s Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence and Southern Rhone Valley. But unlike Grenache, Mourvèdre’s small berries and thick skins are capable of seriously deep colour and dark berry flavours. This might have made Mourvèdre famous (like its frequent neighbour, Syrah) except perhaps for its more rustic, savoury background notes - that can smell like earthy spiced meat...or a barnyard. Yet such complexities still make rich and impressive single varietals - especially in France’s Bandol - while also adding dimension to Spanish blends under the name Monastrell and to Rhone-influenced ones from California and Australia, sometimes under the name Mataro.
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2021 Casa Castillo MonastrellParker's Wine AdvocateA seriously undervalued red from a high altitude area that consists of old unirrigated bush vines. A beautifully rich blend dominated by Monastrell (Mourvedre) from Spain, that comes across much ... read more$25.99 in mixed 6+ or $28.99 per bottle
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2022 Chateau Barthes Bandol RoseJohn CaroA new Bandol from Philippe Barthes of Chateau Font Vive. It is made according to Bandol tradition with a extra dollop of Mourvedre in the blend, infusing the wine with delicate berry fruit ... read more$35.99 in mixed 6+ or $39.99 per bottle
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2021 Casa Castillo La TendidaParker's Wine AdvocateA step up in depth from Casa Castillo's estate-labelled red. The La Tendida is a Monastrell-Grenache blend that was previously called the Vina de Finca, and is sourced from mostly ... read more$37.99 in mixed 6+ or $42.99 per bottle
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2019 Lafran-Veyrolles 'Les Hauts de Lafran'John CaroThe top wine from this expert house, the 'Cuvee Special', is almost entirely made from the rich, dark, structured Mourvedre for which Bandol is known. Beautiful ripeness offers lashings of ... read more$62.99 in mixed 6+ or $69.99 per bottle
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2021 Tempier Bandol 'Lulu & Lucian' ClassiqueParker's Wine AdvocateA special red from Bandol on the Mediterranean coast. The local Mourvedre grape's richness and dimension is here captured by 'Grand Cru de Provence' legends Domaine du Tempier. But they also ... read more$74.99 in mixed 6+ or $83.99 per bottle
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Mixed 6 — Bertrand Iconic Southern France RedsJames SucklingReal classics of Southern French wine, these ones offer the gently rich and smooth tones of a sun-kissed rouge blend from the Mediterranean. Gerard Bertrand outdoes himself in value, with three ... read more$329.94 per pack