Château Mourgues du Grès is an organic estate in Beaucaire in the Gard department, France. It lies in the hilly area between the southern Rhône and the Camargue. Wines are made under the IGP Coteaux du Pont du Gard and the Costières de Nîmes AOC.

Owners: Anne and François Collard.

Motto: ‘This is taken from an old sundial outside the house and is ‘sine sole nihil’ or nothing without sun. Mourgues was originally a Provençal name for Ursuline nuns, the farm originally having belonged to a convent near the village of Beaucaire. With Mont Ventoux visible from the top of the vineyard slopes this is a region that feels closer to Provence or the Rhône than the Languedoc. The vineyard site is made up of flat pebbles called Grès. Les Galets refer to the large stones (also found in Châteauneuf) which heat up during the day and release their warmth at night, perfect for ripening those reds,” (Les Caves de Pyrène list, July 2011).

Staff: François Collard (winemaker). He studied winemaking in Bordeaux, and had a stint at Château Lafite before returning to his family estate. He is married to Anne, who began working here from 1995.

Vineyards: 65ha + 15ha = 80ha on two estates. Grape varieties: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc. 

Soils: vary and include calcareous clay, marl, flat pebbles (‘grès’) and galets. The pebbles protect the soil from evaporation and bring a touch of freshness and minerality. Predominantly clay-limestone marls can be found on the southern slopes. Colluvium with more filtering soils at the bottom of the slopes. Some Cretaceous schists for a “fresher” terroir on the north side.

Organic certification: 2011 (C1) Ecocert. | 2014 First vintage with certified organic vines, if not for the entire estate. | 2016 Full organic certification  due for all 80ha.

Winemaking: Under François Collard (above) wines get no sulphur additions during winemaking, but some is added pre-bottling.

White wines

Vin de Pays du Gard Blanc, Terre d’Argence: This is now a IGP Coteaux du Pont du Gard Blanc, see below.

IGP Coteaux du Pont du Gard Blanc, Terre d’Argence: The name Terre d’Argence translates as ‘silvery land’, referring to the reflection the local olive and alder trees throw in in the wind. Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache. From the older vines on the Costières (Les Caves de Pyrène list, July 2011).| 2015 Viognier, Petit Manseng, Roussanne. 19,000 bottles.

Costières de Nîmes AOC Blanc Galets Dorées: 2010 Grenache Blanc with Roussanne and Vermentino. | 2014 Grenache Blanc with Roussanne and Vermentino. Machine picked. Clean (Millésime Bio 2015).

Pink wines

Costières de Nîmes AOC Rosé Les Galets: 2010 A saignée rosé.

Red wines

Costières de Nîmes AOC Rouge Terre d’Argence: 2008 Old vine Syrah.

Costières de Nîmes AOC Rouge Les Galets: Mainly Syrah, plus Grenache, minor amounts of Carignan and Mourvèdre. | 2012Simple, bit green (Millésime Bio 2015).

Contact

Château Mourgues du Grès

Route de Saint Gilles (D38)

F-30300 Beaucaire (Gard), France

Tel+33 (0)4.66.59.46.10 | www.mourguesdugres.com