Just say “Mourvèdre” to
a fine wine drinker and he will answer “Bandol”.
Mourvèdre is a late ripening, difficult and demanding
grape variety. Here in Bandol, the particularities of geology
and microclimate constitute an ecological niche in which its
strong personality can blossom.
Being enthusiastic fans of Mourvèdre, the Bandol wine growers
have made Bandol its best-suited terroir. Today, their perfect
expertise in growing this uncommon grape variety is acknowledged
all over the world.
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Refusing to do it the easy way
Mourvèdre is an upright bush vine that bears its stems with
majesty. In time it forms a short stumpy trunk that will stand
up to the mistral wind with vigour if carefully tended by the vine
grower. Preference is given to “gobelet” pruning. This
little-productive vine bears triangular bunches with small, tight,
dark grapes. In other wine regions, it is used very sparingly because
of the strength of its character. Nowhere else is Mourvèdre
added in such proportions to the varietal mix. Bandol is the only
appellation wine in which Mourvèdre is the dominant grape
variety: it represents at least 50% of the blend in red wines.
As fans of Mourvèdre, the Bandol wine growers take up the
challenge and often go beyond this limit, adding up to 80 or even
95% of it to the mix. Whereas the authorised yield is 40 hectolitres
per hectare, the wine growers do their best to control the productivity
of Mourvèdre and keep it within lower yields (25 to 30 hl),
so as to express its essence.
Part of the secretÉ
Mourvèdre is a late season grape variety that keeps
the wine grower waiting until it reaches its full potential and
reveals its virtuosity. All the excellence of the Bandol terroir
(soil, subsoil, optimal sun exposure, sea influence and prevailing
winds) is necessary to obtain beautiful, slow and full maturity.
Rich in tannins, it contributes to the extraordinary ageing ability
of Bandol red wines and gives them an original and complex typicity,
their distinctive feature. Mourvèdre also gives rosé wines
power and remarkable ageing ability. This superb grape variety
has found the place of its choice in Bandol. |
