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Domaine de la Mordoree
France - Rhone Valley

In 1986, Francis Delorme and his son Christophe decided to devote themselves to their passion for wine. They bought an estate in Tavel with the goal of producing the greatest wines in each appellation while preserving the environment. Within a decade, they had achieved that goal, and continued getting better and better each year. Domaine de la Mordorée produces some of our best wines, and they have selected and maintained some of the finest terroirs. Their Châteauneuf-du-Papes, Lirac Reds & Whites, and Tavel Rosés are among the most highly rated of the region.

mordoree domaine

 

Unfortunately, in 2015, the remarkably talented Christophe passed away at the age of 52. Christophe was highly respected and regarded by Fran Kysela, and they enjoyed a wonderful business partnership for 21 years. He was also highly regarded by Robert Parker Jr. of The Wine Advocate, who pinned Mordorée as "one of the world’s greatest wine estates". In a 2007 issue of the Wine Advocate, Parker said:

 

"With 135 acres spread throughout some of the most impressive appellations of the southern Rhône, Christophe Delorme and his brother...have done nothing but produce one exquisite wine after another. Of course, the top cuvees of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are rare and expensive, but this is a place to find terrific Cotes du Rhones and Liracs as well. Delorme is equally adept at dry whites as well as reds, and turns out some stunning roses both under the Cotes du Rhône and Tavel appellations..."

 

Christophe’s legacy and his talent live on through his daughter Ambre. Jeb Dunnuck praised the estate for the quality of their first vintage without Christophe, saying the Domaine was “obviously still in incredibly capable hands.”

Mordorée’s vineyards consist of 58 hectares (143 acres) on 38 different parcels, containing a rich, wide range of soils and climates. The soil is a mix of clay, chalk and sand with pebble stones. The vines are trained according to two methods:

  • Goblet training is used for older, untrellised vineyards, with the canopy remaining free. This traditional pruning method provides better resistance to wind and drought, and lesser sensitivity to trunk diseases, which can kill the vines.
  • Cordon de Royat training is used for newer, trellised vineyards. This newer training method allows for higher vines, leaving a larger leaf surface exposed to the sun, which yield colorful grapes that are richer in tannins and in sugar. Exposure to sunlight also produces healthier grapes and allows a greater development of aromas.

lirac2Lirac Vineyards

 

Mordorée’s plantings are in Tavel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Cotes-du-Rhone & Condrieu:

  • TAVEL - Domaine de la Mordorée's vineyards are located on the Vallongue plateau, in the villages of Palai, Roquanaute and Romagnac. They are planted with 60% Black Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault, 5% Bourboulenc and White Clairette.
  • CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE - vineyards are located in the villages of La Crau, la Nerthe, Cabrières, Le Bois de la Ville. They are planted with 70% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 5% Counoise, 5% Syrah, 5% Vaccarese.
  • LIRAC - vineyards are located mainly in the plateaus of Lirac and Tavel, Les Baumes, as well as an area called Les Châtaigniers, meaning the chestnut trees, which are quite unusual in those areas.
  • COTES-DU-RHONE - soils are made up mainly of pebbles, clay, stones, broken-stone deposits.
  • CONDRIEU - vineyards lie on the eastern slopes of the Massif Central. The appellation is named after the commune of Condrieu, meaning a corner (coin) of land where two streams meet (rieu, akin to the Spanish rio). The vineyards produce only Viognier.

For the love of the earth : Mordorée’s vocation is to let the terroir express itself fully through the various grape varieties. They are convinced that nature is more talented than humans, and that their role is mainly to accompany it. For this reason, the wines bring out all the subtleties of the unique terroirs of Southern Rhone, without masking them. The estate is Organic certified by Ecocert, the entire vineyard is Biodynamic certified by Demeter. The harvest is always done by hand and followed by rigorous sorting. As a small yields supporter, they strongly believe that imposing strict specifications and respecting the cycle of the soil and plants is the best way to produce wines that express all the richness of their magnificent terroirs. Winegrower is a vocation, an all-consuming passion that requires to never lose contact with the vines.  Making wine doesn't mean to apply scientific methods; there is an essential place for instinct, passion, resentment, improvisation - thus a place for the human. This is perhaps what makes the difference between technically perfect wines and wines with a soul. We want to remain wine "artisan" offering unique wines with a real personality and strong identity.
Quality and Environment are the keystones of the Domaine de la Mordorée.

Reviews and News

Domaine de la Mordorée Wine Advocate Issue 227

Domaine de la Mordorée Wine Advocate Issue 227

wa300"Since the untimely death of Christophe Delorme last year, the winemaking at Domaine de la Mordorée has fallen to Rémy Chauvet, who was the cellar manager under Christophe for a number of years. Based on these 2015 barrel samples, the estate is obviously still in incredibly capable hands. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 227, October 28th 2016)

Domaine de la Mordorée Wine Advocate Issue 215

Domaine de la Mordorée Wine Advocate Issue 215

wa300"I've yet to see these guys put a foot wrong, and regardless of the vintage, they're able to make superb wines. In addition to their terrific Châteauneuf du Papes, they continue to raise the quality of their Lirac and Côtes du Rhône releases. Also, while these all have the ability to drink nicely on release, they age beautifully. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 215, October 2014)

Domaine de la Mordorée Wine Advocate - May 2022

Domaine de la Mordorée Wine Advocate - May 2022

wa"While my tight travel schedule didn't permit a visit to this fine estate on the eastern side of the Rhône, the Delorme family sent samples of the 2019s to my blind tasting at the Fédération, and I was able to taste a few additional wines hand-carried from the domaine to a small dinner in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The estate's vineyards have been certified organic since 2013, but the wines will be Demeter-certified biodynamic starting with the 2020 vintage. A prospective blend of the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape La Reine de Bois looked quite promising.

The two older vintages sampled, the 2011 and 2001, show just how important it is to know the vintages and monitor their evolution. The 2011 La Reine de Bois—at least this bottle—is still drinkable but appears to be on its downslope, while the outstanding 2001 La Reine de Bois still has a few years ahead of it. While I was short of rating this bottle at the lofty 100 points it has received previously, it's a beautiful wine I'd be happy to own and drink. Still, it's a reminder that even "perfect" wines have lifespans and that 20 years after a vintage, some bottle variation is to be expected."

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2022)

Domaine de la Mordorée - Jeb Dunnuck - 2022

Domaine de la Mordorée - Jeb Dunnuck - 2022

jeb dunnuck logo 250"Looking at the vintages reviewed here, the estate compared 2020 to a mix of 2019 and 2018, commenting that their 2020s were less concentrated than their 2019s, which I wholeheartedly agree with, although I feel their 2020s still have plenty of structure. The 2021s show the fresher style of the vintage but don’t lack ripeness and have plenty of texture. As usual, all of these wines are impeccably made and worth seeking out."

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022)

Gallery

Wine Brands

Producer Details
Founded
1986
Location
France
Wine Production Area
France - Rhone Valley - Chateauneuf du Pape AOC, Condrieu AOC, Cotes du Rhone AOC, Lirac AOC, Tavel AOC
Owners
Delorme Family
Winemaker
Ambre Delorme
Acreage
143 acres (58 hectares)
Grape Varietal(s)
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Vaccarese, Counoise, Carignan, Grenache, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Picpoul, Clairette , Bourboulenc, Picpoul Gris
Age of Vines
up to 80 years
Agricultural Practices
Demeter certified Biodynamic

Producer Documents