Patrick Schmitt MW’s recent masterclass explored the market proposition of Monastrell from a selection of five Spanish DOs. Most grape varieties will, under the right conditions, make great and popular wines. Whether it is a heritage variety grown in a handful of hectares globally or an international player like Chardonnay, there is likely to be a winemaker producing high quality wines with it. That is not, however, the same as having strong market potential. A host of factors – ranging from quality to price to current trends – will affect how it performs on the market. A variety has to have some versatility to thrive. One variety poised to take the spotlight is Monastrell. The grape has a global presence, including in major production centres in France, Australia and the USA. Under its French name, Mourvedre, the variety is a common blending partner, appearing in Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre (GSM) blends around the world. Its home, however, is along the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Here, rather than playing a supporting role, the grape frequently takes the lead. Indeed, it is common to see it bottled monovarietally. Five of the area’s Denominacións de Origen (DOs) have joined together to form Monastrell España, a group dedicated to promoting the grape’s potential when grown in this region. These are DO Alicante, DO Almansa, DO Bullas, DO Jumilla and DO Yecla. Patrick Schmitt MW, in a recent masterclass in London, used wines from these DOs to demonstrate the grape’s appeal. So what do the Monastrell wines from
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Wine
