Mourvedre (Monastrell) Wine: 10 Exquisite Bottles, Tasting Notes

Mourvedre is a stunning red wine with intense fruit and earthy flavors, a ripe tannin mouthfeel, and a meaty character comparable to the famous Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The Mourvèdre grape variety is primarily grown in Spain, France (Rhone Valley), the United States, and Australia and it goes by different names. It’s used to make both single varietal and red blends with Grenache and Syrah (called GSM.)

Now, while there are some differences, Mourvedre and Monastrell refer to the same wine grape variety. While Monastrell is the grape’s name in Spain, Mourvedre is its French name. 

In this article, we’ll discover all about Mourvedre (aka Monastrell), the top 10 bottles to buy, the best food pairings, and some fascinating facts about this delicious wine. We’ll also explore its investment potential and the difference between Mourvedre and Monastrell.

Mourvedre vs. Monastrell

Mourvedre is called Monastrell in Spain and is the fourth most widely planted red grape in the country. Spain’s hot climate favors the early development of the Monastrell grape and produces wines with softer tannins. 

In contrast, Mourvedre from the cooler French regions like Rhone Valley needs time to mature, develop a complex flavor profile, and grippy tannins.

Besides Mourvedre and Monastrell, the grape is known by 95 different names, including Mataro in Portugal and the New World (United States, Australia, South Africa.)

10 Best Mourvedre and Monastrell Wines to Buy in 2023

Here are the top 10 Mourvedre and Monastrell wines to try in 2023:

• 1989 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge Cuvee Cabassaou ($290)
• 2015 Alban Vineyards Forsythe Vineyard The Mason Mourvedre ($220)
• 2015 Andremily Wines Mourvedre ($218)
• 2007 Torbreck The Pict ($164)
• 2011 Atlan & Artisan 'Epistem No 5' ($126)
• 2017 Demuerte Black ($121)
• 2017 Casa Castillo Monastrell Pie Franco ($89)
• 2017 Casa Castillo Cuvee N Vinas Viejas ($71)
• 2018 Bodegas Juan Gil 'Bruto' Monastrell ($41)
• 2014 Finca Bacara 'Taba' ($27)

1. 1989 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge Cuvee Cabassaou ($290)

This is an outstanding mature Spanish wine with earthy and mineral aromas in a blackberry, dark fruit, and cherry palate. It offers fresh acidity, moderate tannins, and a lingering finish.

2. 2015 Alban Vineyards Forsythe Vineyard The Mason Mourvedre ($220)

Addictive chocolate, cedar, and cassis aromas complement the robust raspberry, red fruit, and black pepper notes of this magnificent Mourvèdre wine. It presents bold flavors, smooth tannins, and a creamy mouthfeel.

3. 2015 Andremily Wines Mourvedre ($218)

Here we have a compelling, earthy New World wine with a honeysuckle and blueberry nose. The palate boasts intense dark fruit, dark cherry, and peppery spice tasting notes.  

4. 2007 Torbreck The Pict ($164)

This beautiful Mourvedre wine from South Australia presents medium acidity and a tantalizing fruity aroma balanced by delicious dark berry and mocha flavors. 

5. 2011 Atlan & Artisan 'Epistem No 5' ($126)

Vanilla and nutmeg aromas characterize this incredible Spanish Monastrell wine. Rich and bold black cherry, white pepper, and ripe fruit flavors complement its silky tannins and persistent finish.

6. 2017 Demuerte Black ($121)

This gorgeous Spanish Monastrell opens with a lovely dark fruit nose and peppery spice tasting notes. A ripe tannin mouthfeel and balanced acidity define this full-bodied wine.

7. 2017 Casa Castillo Monastrell Pie Franco ($89)

Here’s a Spanish red wine with a great oak, cedar, and ripe fruit aroma offset by intense black cherry, black fruit, and plum flavors.

8. 2017 Casa Castillo Cuvee N Vinas Viejas ($71)

Here we have a fruity Spanish red wine with a rosemary, white pepper, and licorice bouquet balanced by dark cherry, black pepper, and chocolate notes. The wine also has hints of Mediterranean herbs, red fruit, and a chewy tannin mouthfeel.

9. 2018 Bodegas Juan Gil 'Bruto' Monastrell ($41)

This refreshing Bodegas Juan Gil sparkling wine offers fresh acidity and tart flavors of red berry, cherry, and plum. This Juan Gil vintage is the perfect summer drink.

10. 2014 Finca Bacara 'Taba' ($27)

This earthy Mourvèdre wine has truffle, olive, and mushroom aromas in a delectable palate of black fruit, blackberry, and blueberry notes. This organic wine from Finca Bacara boasts moderate tannins, medium acidity, and a lingering finish.

Best Food Pairings with Mourvedre (Monastrell) Wines

The bold and rich flavor profile of Mourvedre (Monastrell) wines is a perfect complement to braised and grilled meats, game, veal, duck, pork, and beef. The wines’ spicy character also works well with hard cheeses, mushrooms, lentils, and vegetarian dishes.

Some sweet Monastrell varietals from Spain pair exceptionally well with chocolate desserts. 

Investing in Mourvedre (aka Monastrell) Wines

If you’re looking to invest in the finest Mourvedre (Monastrell) wines, visit the Vinovest website. The AI-based platform helps you to buy, store, and sell authentic wines from all over the world.

Spanish Monastrell wines can be enjoyed in their youth, but Mourvedre wines from Bandol (France) develop better with aging for 8 to 20 years. 

Some vintages have shown remarkable appreciation in value year on year and can be great assets for the discerning wine collector. For instance, between 2020 and 2021: 

• The price of the 2010 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge Cuvee Cabassaou increased by over 75%, from $86 to $151.
• The 2011 Alban Vineyards Forsythe Vineyard The Mason Mourvedre wine appreciated by over 63%, from $120 to $196.

Some leading vintages have secured high scores from reputed wine critics too. 

• The 2016 Andremily Wines Mourvedre was awarded an astounding 99 points by Robert Parker. 
• The Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded the aromatic 2013 Torbreck The Pict wine a high score of 94 points.

How is Mourvedre Wine Made?

Mourvedre produces wines with moderate sugar and alcohol levels. 

The wine grape is tricky to grow and is susceptible to downy and powdery mildew. The acidity of the grape declines as it ripens. So, Mourvèdre vines require careful monitoring to determine the optimum harvest time.

• Mourvèdre grape bunches are hand-harvested and undergo fermentation for 10 days in an open tank. 
• Fermentation is followed by gentle punch-downs and pressings with the grape skins on. 
• The wine is then aged in neutral or old French oak barrels (foudre) as it does not adapt well to new oak. It is bottled after aging for at least 18 months in French oak.

The Monastrell grape is also used to produce Rose wines. These pink wines are made either by: 

• Bleeding off some of the juice used in red wine production.
• Keeping the grape skins in contact with the wine for a shorter duration (a few hours.)

Mourvedre adds structure and richness to Garnacha Tintorera, Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah blends.

Sometimes, Mourvedre wine is prone to reduction in the bottle and may release a foul sulfide odor. This occurs due to the absence of oxygen during winemaking and can be corrected by aerating the wine using copper fining.

What are the Different Mourvedre (Monastrell) Wine Regions and Wine Styles?

Though Mourvedre originated in Spain, it has become popular worldwide today. Let’s take a look at the prominent Mourvedre wine regions and their respective wine styles:

• Spain: Mourvedre (Monastrell) is the primary wine grape variety grown in Eastern Spain, especially in the Valencia, Jumilla, Alicante, Yecla, and Almansa DOPs. Despite a decline in the wine region, Mourvedre vineyards still cover over 60,000 hectares in eastern and southern Spain. 

Spanish Monastrell wine is full-bodied, fruit-flavored, and oak-aged with medium tannins.

• France: SouthernFrance is a leading Mourvedre producer known for its savory, dense, and full-bodied wines. French Mourvedre is used as a blending grape and to craft single varietal styles. 

The dominant wine region covers an area of over 10,000 hectares in Southern Rhône Valley (Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC), Provence (Bandol AOC, Cassis AOC), and Languedoc-Roussillon.

• United States: Mourvedre vineyards are spread across 400 hectares in Napa Valley,  Paso Robles (Tablas Creek vineyards), El Dorado AVA, and Santa Cruz in California, Red Mountain Valley, Columbia Valley, and Yakima Valley AVA in Washington state, New York, and New Mexico. 

American Mourvedre (Mataro) is less tannic and medium-bodied than Old World styles.

• Australia: The major Mourvedre producing regions (1,000 hectares) are in South Australia and includeBarossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Riverina, and Riverland.  

Here, Mataro is produced in single varietal, GSM blend, and fortified wine styles.

Besides the dominant wine regions, small Mourvedre plantations are found in South Africa, New Zealand, and Azerbaijan.

Relish the Wonders of the Mourvedre or Monastrell Wine

If you’re a Cabernet Sauvignon lover looking for similar wines to try, Mourvedre is right up your alley. The aging potential and dynamic flavors also make it a worthy contender for your cellar.

Sign up with Vinovest today to get your hands on one of the collectible Mourvedre bottles or an exquisite GSM blend.