Rhône 2018 - A wine lover h(e)aven
Domaine Mourchon - Séguret
Winemaker: Sebastien Magnouac
Vineyard: 35ha
Annual production: 100-150,000 bottles annually
Claims to fame:
Beautifully picturesque vineyards and gorgeous Provencal mas nestled between Châteauneuf and Mont Ventoux.
Founded and managed by entrepreneurial and incredibly welcoming McKinlay family
Fruity pale rosés and award-winning deep, bold well-structured reds
Top wines: Grande Réserve 2015; Loubié Séguret Cotes du Rhône Villages Rosé 2017
The amazing view from the Domaine Mourchon mas provencal. Just gorgeous!
Domaine Mourchon is any (romantic) wine lover's dream. Imagine: you drive in the sunset along a windy road that slowly reveals Séguret, a perched village from yesteryears that has kept all its glory, paved narrow streets, roman arches and provençal splendeur. Then, just as you arrive by Séguret, you drive on, deeper into the garrigues on a narrow road surrounded by pine trees and vines all the way up to the Mourchon, top of the hill and historical vines of the domain. There, you reach Domaine Mourchon, first the winery and then the McKinlay family house. The smell of pine, the gentle warmth of the setting sun, the sights of vineyards and pine trees stretching into the sunny horizon under the majestic Mont Ventoux; it is pure bliss.
The original ‘Mourchon’ parcel next to the McKinlay house, overlooked by the mighty Mont Ventoux.
The domain was bought and revamped by entrepreneur and wine lover Walter McKinlay in 1998. He was seduced by the uniqueness of the 350m-high terroir and the potential of the 55-year-old vines. He went on to set up a state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery, renovate the house nearby and bring the down-to-earth and Bordeaux-trained (ex-Château Carbonnieux and Raynon-Floridene) Sébastien as winemaker in 2000. With time, the McKinlays increased the total estate from 17ha to 35ha today and are now going through the four-year process to get the organic certification in 2020.
2015 was, as Jancis Robinson noted, a 'very good vintage' with good quality and quantity in the Southern Rhône. The Grande Réserve 2015 is a blend of 65% old Grenache and 35% Syrah with 40% in barriques. It is a great reminder of the quality of the vintage: it's rich and round with intense dark fruit flavours, hints of white coffee, toffee and liquorice. The tannins are still showing some grip but have it with a creamy cheese or a venison steak and you'll be in heaven. 16.5/20
The domain's Rosé is named after the parcel it comes from, Loubié. It is a blend of Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%) from 40-year-old vines grown on mix of clay, limestone and sand and then vinified mostly from direct pressing. The result is a Rosé with both red (summer fruit salad) and citrus fruits (pink grapefruit) that boasts an impressive 95 pts from Decanter. Great with apéritif or tomato-based dishes. 16/20
Sébastien, ex-Carbonnieux has worked at Domaine Mourchon for 18 years. Hear him whistling in the vineyards or in the cellar and you’re up for a good vintage.
(Yes he did in 2018)
Check out more gorgeous pictures and wines on Domaine Mourchon.com or below:
