Mourvedre

Name of vine variety

Mourvèdre

Origin

This variety is originally from Spain and was probably introduced in France at the end of the Middle ages.

Synonymy

• There is no officially recognized synonym for this variety in France.
• In the European Union, Mourvèdre N can officially be called by other names: Mataro (Cyprus), Monastrell (Spain) and Kaldaretta (Malta).

Regulations

• In France, Mourvèdre N is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties".
• This vine variety is likewise listed in the Catalogues of other European Union member states: Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Malta.

Use

Wine vine variety

Phenology

• Bud burst: 13 days after Chasselas. 
• Grape maturity: period III, 4 and 1/2 weeks after Chasselas.

Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production

• Mourvèdre N is a demanding an delicate vine variety.
• With its upright growth and acrotonic pattern, it must be short pruned.
• As such, it can be grown with cords with reduced training or in sufficiently open gobelet.  
• Care must be taken to keep the leaves, which are few in number and are moderately effective.
• Trimming must be avoided to limit the presence of large size grapillons, which poses as bothersome competition.
• Production per vine trunk must be low to prevent risk of depletion.
• This variety sometimes demonstrates alternating fertility levels.
• The pedo-climatic requirements of Mourvèdre N are very demanding.
• This variety appears well adapted to deep limestone soils to enable a limited but regular supply of water.
• Potassium and magnesium supplies (K/Mg) must likewise be balanced in order to prevent arising deficencies.
• Finally, the main limiting factor for growing this late cycle vine variety (bud burst and grape maturity), include the fact that temperatures at the moment of grape maturation must be very high (especially minimum temperatures) to enable proper ripening and a sufficient accumulation of sugar in the berries.
• This variety is thus reserved for the hottest southern areas and the best exposed.

Sensitivity to diseases and pests

• Mourvèdre N is sensitive to mites, leaf hoppers, esca and acid rot.
• On the other hand, it is generally not so sensitive to grey rot and it resists well againt phomopsis.

Technological potential

• Mourvèdre N grape clusters are moderate to large size and the berries are moderate size.
• The color potential of this variety is moderate with sometimes a lack of acidity.
• Nevertheless, Mourvèdre N can produce very high quality wines, aromatic, tannic and structured, good for ageing and maturing in wood barrels provided that there is sufficient grape maturity  (12 natural degrees minimum) and that the production per vine trunk is limited.

Clonal selection:

Mourvèdre N clones carry the number 234.

Source: PlantGrape