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 MonastrellA 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 RoseA 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$33.99 in mixed 6+ or $37.99 per bottle
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2022 Chateau de Font Vive Bandol RoseThere is Provence Rose, then there is Bandol! This famous village is unquestionably the finest in the region. This charming rose is from a great-value producer and is a top expression of the dry ... read more$33.99 in mixed 6+ or $37.99 per bottle
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2021 Casa Castillo La TendidaA 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'The 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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Mixed 6 — Casa Castillo PackA great price for such satisfying and complex Spanish reds! Casa Castillo specialise in the local Monastrell grape, which is known as Mourvedre in Southern France and produces richer reds with ... read more$217.94 per pack