Muscardin

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Muscardin
Grape (Vitis)
Muscardin in Viala & Vermorel
Color of berry skinNoir
SpeciesVitis vinifera
Also calledMuscadin, Muscardin Noir
OriginFrance
Notable regionsSouthern Rhône
Notable winesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
VIVC number8184
Muscardin grapes

Muscardin is a dark-skinned grape variety primarily found in the southern part of the Rhône region. It is primarily noted for being one of the thirteen grape varieties permitted in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation.[1] It is a very rare variety, and in 2004 only 0.4% of the appellation's vineyards were planted with Muscardin.[2]

The resulting red wines tends to have high acid levels, low alcohol, light tannic structure but can show attractive flowery aromas. The color is also lighter than most Rhone varieties and the wine is prone to the wine fault of oxidation.[3][4]

Relationship to other grape varieties[edit]

Muscardin appears to be nearly identical to Mondeuse noire except that it has less sensitivity to downy mildew. They are however not thought to be the same variety.

Synonyms[edit]

Muscardin is also known under the synonyms Muscadin and Muscardin noir.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jancis Robinson, ed. (2006). "Muscardin". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 463. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
  2. ^ www.chateauneuf.dk: Grapes, accessed on June 19, 2008
  3. ^ J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 203 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1-85732-999-6
  4. ^ Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 129 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0-15-100714-4
  5. ^ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Muscardin Archived 2012-04-30 at the Wayback Machine, accessed June 19, 2008