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Mourvèdre, Mataró, or Monastrell is variety of wine grape used to make both strong, dark red wines and rosés. It is an international variety grown in many regions around the world. Mourvèdre produces tannic wines that can be high in alcohol, and is most successful in Rhone-style blends. It has a particular affinity for Grenache, softening it and giving it structure. Its taste varies greatly according to area, but often has a wild, gamey or earthy flavour, with soft red fruit flavours.[1]
[edit] HistoryThe variety was probably introduced to Catalonia by the Phoenicians in around 500 BCE. The name Mourvèdre comes from Murviedro near Valencia and the name Mataró comes from Mataró, Cataluña. It arrived in France sometime after the 16th century, and spread eastwards towards the Rhone. It arrived in California in the 1860's as part of the Pellier collection.[2] It was hit hard by the phylloxera epidemic, but has been increasing in popularity of late. Considerable confusion has resulted from Internet reports that DNA fingerprinting had confirmed that Monastrell was not the same grape as Mourvèdre. These reports were the result of the mis-reading of a UC Davis analysis that a particular sample had been misidentified. [edit] Distribution and wines[edit] AustraliaThere are around 12 square kilometres of Mourvèdre in Australia, with the most significant plantings in South Australia and New South Wales. It is usually found in Rhone-style GSM blends of Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre. It has also found its way into Australian 'port' fortified wines.[3] [edit] FranceMourvèdre (sometimes known as Balzac) is widespread across the Mediterranean coast of southern France, where it is a notable component of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It was once the most popular grape in Provence, but is now much less common there. One exception is Bandol on the Mediterranean coast of Provence, where Mourvèdre has found a natural home, producing powerful red wines in the style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is sometimes used to produce a fortified red wine in Languedoc-Roussillon. [edit] SpainUntil recently it was assumed that Spain's Monastrell grape was identical to Mourvèdre, so data on Mourvèdre as opposed to Monastrell is patchy. But it is likely that it is mostly on the Mediterranean coast in regions such as Alicante and Jumilla. [edit] USAThere are 8 square kilometres of Mourvèdre in California. The variety was one of the first to be used in Southern California, the original wine center of the state. Some vineyards near Ontario, California, date back to the turn of the 20th century. Mourvèdre varietals are made in the Cucamonga Valley, near Lodi and in Santa Rosa. It is produced and bottled by boutique vineyards and wineries found in Vallecito and Murphys in Calaveras County, located in the Sierra Foothills of California. It is also grown on Red Mountain, in Washington State, and bottled by several wineries. [edit] Vine and viticultureMourvèdre is very late to ripen. Ripening is helped by proximity to a large body of water such as the Mediterranean Sea. The leaves have 3–5 lobes, the bunches are long, conical and winged. The berries are medium-sized and blue-black in colour, with thick skins. [edit] NamesMourvèdre is the name used in France; Mataró is used in Portugal and parts of the New World; and Monastrell is used in Spain. In English-speaking wine producing areas, Mourvèdre is most commonly used and is the official name used by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.[2] Though the grape was originaly named after a Spanish town, the word "Mourvèdre" is of French derivation, and is pronounced much like "moo-vahd" or "mor-vahd" in French; though the naïve pronunciation "more-vay-druh" is used by some English speakers. Other names include Alcallata, Alcayata, Alicante, Arach Sap, Balzac, Balzar, Benadu, Beneda, Beni Carlo, Berardi, Bod, Bon Avis, Buona Vise, Casca, Catalan, Cayata, Caymilari Sarda, Charnet, Churret, Damas Noir, Drug, English Colossal, Espagnen, Espar, Esparte, Estrangle-chien, Flouron, Flouroux, Garrut, Gayata Tinta, Karis, Maneschaou, Marseillais, Mataro, Maurostel, Mechin, Monastre, Monastrell Menudo, Monastrell Verdadero, Mourvedre, Mourvegue, Mourves, Murvedr Espar, Negralejo, Negria, Neyron, Pinot Fleri, Plant De Ledenon, Plant De Saint Gilles, Reina, Ros, Rossola Nera, Spar, Tintilla, Tire Droit, Torrentes, Trinchiera, Valcarcelia, Verema, Veremeta, Vereneta[4] [edit] References
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