Mondeuse Noire

Mondeuse Noire
Grape (Vitis)
Color of berry skin	Noir
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	see list of synonyms
Origin	France
Notable regions	Savoy

Mondeuse Noire is a red wine grape that is grown primarily in the Savoy region of France. The grape can also be found in Argentina, Australia, and California. The grape was hit hard during the phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century which nearly wiped out the vine from eastern France. In Savoie the grape is used in blending with Gamay, Pinot Noir and Poulsard where it contributes its dark color and high acid levels to the wine that allow the wines to age well.^[1]

French plantations of Mondeuse Noire fell sharply in the 1970s, with just over 200 hectares (490 acres) left in France in 2000. In the early 21st century, it seems the variety has increased somewhat in popularity, as it can give good wines if the planting site is chosen carefully.^[2]

Relationship to other varieties

Some authorities have previously suggested than Mondeuse Noire is identical to the northern Italian variety Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso due to the similarity of the wines. DNA analysis has shown that this is not the case, and that the two varieties are unrelated.^[2]

DNA analysis has also shown that, despite similarity in names, Mondeuse Noire and Mondeuse Blanche do not share a close relationship.^[3]

Mondeuse Noire is very similar to Muscardin which is found in Southern Rhône where it is one of the thirteen grape varieties permitted in the wine Châteauneuf-du-Pape. One difference is that Muscardin has less sensitivity to downy mildew.^[4] They are however not thought to be the same variety.

Synonyms

The following synonyms have been recorded for Mondeuse Noire: Angelique, Argillet, Argilliere, Begeain, Begean, Bon Savoyan, Chetouan, Cintuan, Cotillon Des Dames, Gascon, Grand Chetuan, Grand Picot, Grand Picou, Gros Chetuan, Gros Picot, Gros Piquot, Gros Plant, Gros Rouge, Gros Rouge Du Pays, Grosse Sirah, Gueyne, Guyenne, La Dame, Languedoc, Largillet, Maldoux, Mandouse, Mandoux, Mandouze, Mantouse, Margilien, Margillin, Marlanche Noire, Marsanne Noire, Marsanne Ronde, Marve, Maudos, Maudoux, Meximieux, Molette, Molette Noire, Mondeuse Rouge, Morlanche Mouteuse, Parcense, Persagne, Persaigne, Persance, Persanne, Pinot Vache, Plant Maudos, Plant Medoc, Plant Modo, Plant Modol, Plant Noir, Prossaigne, Refosco, Rouget, Salanaise, Savoe, Savoete, Savouai, Savouette, Savoyan, Savoyanche, Savoyange, Savoyanne, Savoyant, Savoyard, Savoyen, Savoyet, Syrah Grosse, Terran, Terrano, Tornarin, Tournarin, Tournerin, Vache.^[5]

References to Mondeuse usually are to Mondeuse Noire rather than to Mondeuse Blanche.

References

1. ^ J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 201 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1-85732-999-6
2. ^ ^{a b} Jancis Robinson, ed (2006). "Mondeuse". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third Edition ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 448. ISBN 0-19-860990-6. 
3. ^ Jancis Robinson, ed (2006). "Mondeuse Blanche". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third Edition ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 448. ISBN 0-19-860990-6. 
4. ^ J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 203 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1-85732-999-6
5. ^ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Mondeuse Noire, accessed on June 19, 2008