OUR TERROIR: THE GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY THAT MAKE MOURCHON SPECIAL

It’s called ‘Terroir’

In France, there is a strong argument that where a grape is grown is at least as significant as the variety of grape from which it is grown. Thus the geology of each partcular vineyard along with its altitude, aspect and individual microclimate is of great importance.

The Southern Rhône valley is host to a complex and  diverse geological structure which explains, in part, the vast range of different wines that are produced here.  The commune of Séguret covers approximately 850 hectares and can be divided into three different types of terroir; down by the river the soil is silty and has a loam base, the slopes which surround the village have a sandstone and pebbly composition and the hills behind the village are limestone giving way to marl. 

Domaine de Mourchon is situated in the hills at approximately 300m altitude behind the limestone crags on which the village of Séguret is perched.  As you ascend the winding road up the hill to the vineyard the predominance of limestone gives way to a grey marl giving the landscape a crumbly blue base.  The vines are planted on steep and narrow terraces which face mostly south-east and south-west.  On the top of the grey marl base is a thin layer of dense stony limestone and clay topsoil.  It is because of the friable nature of the marl that the roots of the vine are able to penetrate considerable depths in their search for water during the hot, dry summers.  The advantage of marl is twofold;  the vines are not only better prepared for drought stress but they also profit from the rich selection of trace elements found at such depths which consequently give the characteristic mineral qualities to our wines.  Because Mourchon is at altitude, the nights are cooler than down on the plain during the summer months and so the maturation process is slower and altogether gentler on the diminishing natural acids in the grape.  Although our harvest can be up to two weeks later than our lower-lying neighbours the cooler nights have helped to preserve enough natural acid in the juice for us to produce a wine with a fresh and vibrant palate.