(moor-VEHD(r))
A native of Spain, where it's called Monastrell, Mourvèdre is best known for its blending role in the Southern Rhone. Strong and rustic, Mourvèdre is the cowboy style blender in the Rhone mix. It's also the "M" of GSM (or SGM) blends in Australia, and it's used as the primary grape in wines from Jumilla and other Southeast areas of Spain.
Notable Facts
The desirable aspects of Mourvèdre as a blending grape are good color (from thick skins), high acid and high tannins. These attributes offset the lighter color, lower acid and lower tannins of its Rhone (and sometimes Australian & Spanish) partner, Grenache. The grape likes warmer climates, but has tight bunches so benefits from the cool winds commonly found in areas where it grows best. Spicy and gamey are typical terms related to Mourvèdre. It's not as often bottled as a single variety, but parts of Spain and California are successfully doing just that - the results are delicious.
Summing it up
Successful Sites:
Southern Rhone, Spain, Australia, California
Common Descriptors:
Meaty, rustic, blackberry, leather, herbs, spice