A year in Costières-de-Nîmes: the authentic art of blending at Château Mourgues du Grès

François Collard and Charly Scuderi in deep discussion during the white blends. Midi Libre – Alissandre Allemand

François Collard and Charly Scuderi in deep discussion during the white blends. Midi Libre – Alissandre Allemand

Château Mourgues du Grès, located in Beaucaire, in the Costières de Nîmes, is recognized for its environmentally friendly winemaking practices and its quest for the pure expression of the terroir. Strong values ​​that are reflected in the glass thanks to their mastery in blending.

Château Mourgues du Grès, located in the Costières-de-Nîmes appellation, is a wine estate renowned for the finesse and elegance of its wines. The estate benefits from an exceptional terroir, composed of rolled pebbles, vestiges of the old bed of the Rhône, and clay-limestone soils.

This terroir promotes optimal maturation of the raisins, giving the wines a remarkable structure and minerality. The Mediterranean climate, marked by hot summers and maritime influences, plays a key role in the aromatic expression of the wines.

The blends produced in this area provide a subtle approach to the balance between tradition and innovation, while maintaining one of the distinctive features of the Costières de Nîmes appellation: the balance between freshness and aromatic richness, thanks to the expertise of the winemakers, Anne and François Collard and their son Romain.

Viticulture logic and winegrower's gesture

Because, let it be said, there is a Mourgues du Grès style, as François Collard passionately explains, “we are proud that all the wines of the estate, although very different, have a common style. Like a standard of a philosophy. This is a reflection of our viticultural logic and the gesture of the winegrower”.

The estate has also been certified organic since 2014, after more than a decade of environmentally friendly practices. The winemakers apply biodynamic principles, favoring natural cycles and the use of specific preparations to strengthen the vitality of the soils and vines.

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“The basis of everything”, in the eyes of François and Charly Scuderi, the cellar master. Moreover, to maintain them, sheep graze in the vines during the winter, contributing to the natural maintenance of the soil and organic fertilization.

The expression of the terroir and the vintage in the glass

In the majestic vaulted room of the estate, lit by the soft light of December, the tables tactfully display around twenty golden-colored bottles. Today, in the heart of the Costières, a real and capital ceremony is taking place: that of the blends.

In December, by tradition and winemaker logic, but also taking into account the 2024 vintage, we blend two emblematic whites of the estate: Les galets dorés and Les Capitelles. Because one of the marks of nobility of great wines (even if more and more single grape varieties are sublimated every day) remains the blending of grape varieties. A common practice that aims to create a balance and maximize the quality and complexity of the wine.

Because each grape variety brings unique characteristics. Some offer fruity, floral or spicy notes. Others add tannic structure, others bring suppleness. While some still balance the acidity or the alcohol content. Thus, the blend makes it possible to combine these attributes to obtain a harmonious wine.

And besides, depending on the year of harvest, some grape varieties are more favoured than others due to the weather conditions. “This year has been particularly good for us for the Roussannes”, continues the winemaker.

Quantities that will be taken into account for the blends of the vintages. “Where we would have put more Marsanne or Vermentino, we will take into account the generosity of the Roussannes in our calculations”.

Overall, the grape varieties grown here give off the typicality of the Costières-de-Nîmes. For reds and rosés, the main grape varieties used are Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan. These grape varieties are carefully blended to produce complex and harmonious wines.

For whites, the estate favors Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache blanc, Bourboulenc or Clairette and Viognier, which offer floral and fruity aromas. A wine made from a single grape variety can lack depth. Blending several grape varieties offers a richer palette of aromas and flavors, making the wine more interesting according to wine lovers.

The winemaker's touch

At Château Mourgues du Grès, this ritual is carried out with artisanal precision, each grape variety making its specific contribution in order to embody the art of sublimating local grape varieties to create wines that tell the story of their terroir.