Barrel Full Of Sunshine

We had a great weekend of barrel tasting with a huge turnout, thanks to our terrific customers and two beautiful, spring-like days. We even forklifted the barrels outside. It would have been a shame not to be in the sun. I may have even picked up a sunburn while pulling samples from the barrels. Don’t tell my dermatologist.

Over the weekend, one grape kept coming up again and again. Mourvèdre.

It sparked more questions than any other barrel we poured, especially as guests tasted the Patriarche and began to pull apart what gives it its depth, structure and savory edge. Again and again, the conversation kept circling back to the same thing. Where does that depth come from? Why does this wine feel so complete?

So we thought we would take a moment to share why we rely on Mourvèdre so heavily and why it plays such a central role in our cellar. Here are some answers to the many questions we received.

First, what grape is Mourvèdre?

Mourvèdre is its own grape variety. In the Rhône, it is traditionally used to bring structure, longevity and savory complexity to blends. On its own, it can be remarkably expressive, offering dark fruit, earth and a distinctly savory character that unfolds over time.

It is a grape that rewards patience and attention, both in the vineyard and in the glass.

Why does it sometimes show mushroom or forest floor notes?

Those earthy aromas are not added or forced. They come from site, vine age and fermentation choices. Mourvèdre is late-ripening and highly sensitive to the conditions of a given year. At Holly’s Hill in cooler or slower-ripening vintages, the grape often leans away from bright fruit and toward umami-driven notes like mushroom, dried herbs and forest floor.

Fermentation choices matter too. Longer macerations, restrained oak and minimal intervention allow those savory elements to stay visible rather than being covered up. It is one of the reasons Mourvèdre feels so alive and so different from vintage to vintage.

Why Mourvèdre matters so much to Patriarche?

Patriarche is built around balance, structure and the ability to evolve over time. Mourvèdre is the grape that makes that possible and it’s our favorite red grape that we grow.

It provides the backbone of the blend. It brings tannin and savory depth. And it acts as the anchor that holds everything together.

Why more than one bottling of Mourvedre?

Classique and Estate, two expressions of the same idea. Our use of the word Classique is intentional.

Years ago, Domaine Tempier used the name Classique for their entry-level Bandol Mourvèdre. They eventually dropped the designation, but the idea behind it always stuck with us. It was never about being simple or lesser. It was about balance, proportion and a wine built to belong at the table.

When we chose the name Classique for our Mourvèdre, it was very much a tip of the hat to that philosophy.

Our Mourvèdre Classique is blended from multiple blocks and sometimes nearby vineyards and is crafted to show the soul of the grape in a more approachable way. It is meant to be enjoyed earlier and to feel comfortable with food rather than demanding attention on its own.

The Estate Mourvèdre comes from our most expressive vineyard sites and is bottled with minimal intervention. It shows more structure, more savory depth and more of the long-term aging potential that makes Mourvèdre such a cornerstone of the Patriarche.

Both matter. They are simply different chapters of the same story.

We can talk about fermentation choices and forest floor all day long. And honestly, we love doing exactly that.

But the real reason Mourvèdre keeps showing up in our cellar is simple. It makes wines we want to drink. Wines that work with food. Wines that change in the glass. Wines that still have something to say after the second pour.

So the next time you taste the Patriarche or pour a glass of Mourvèdre and catch something savory you cannot quite name, know that it is not a trick. It is just the grape doing what it does best.

And if you see us pulling barrels into the sun again, feel free to remind us to wear sunscreen.

Josh Bendick
Co-winemaker

*Photo credit: Reverie Retreat