Mourvedre is one of the varietals winemakers prize for its ability to blend in. It is part of noble wines, such as Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf du Pape, the all-important M in GSM. And so it was at Morgan – until now. The winery just released its first single-varietal Mourvedre, a 2023 vintage from the Chalone AVA.
It is a vibrant wine, boasting of fresh blackberries and ripened blueberries on the nose, with floral tones of rose petals and blooming violets – inviting aromas, promising an almost boisterous ride.
The Mourvedre is equally unabashed when sipped. Berries burst on the palate, brisk and endearing. Yet this rustic charm is tempered by pricks of black pepper, notions of worn leather scored by flame and a distant hint of minerality – but only just. This is an eager, pleasant wine that is at once big and deftly balanced, able to stand up to anything from a steak down to a plate of grilled sausages. Although in this case, the wine is also enjoyable on its own.
The team at Morgan pulled it off through open-tank fermentation, followed by nine months in French oak, a third of it new wood. Mourvedre can be a testy grape on the vine. Of course, 2023 was a remarkable vintage in Monterey County all around – motivation enough for Morgan to let the varietal out on its own.
Oh, and if you must know, the G is Grenache, S is for Syrah – the other common Rhône varietals.