Mondeuse [mohn-DEUHZ]
Although commonly referred to as Mondeuse, this red-wine grape is really Mondeuse Noir. There’s also an obscure white variety called Mondeuse Blanche. Mondeuse is primarily grown in France’s Savoie. It can produce high-quality, deeply colored wines with concentrated flavors reminiscent of tart plums and a finish that’s slightly bitter. In France, the muscular Mondeuse is often lightened slightly by blending in Pinot Noir and/or Gamay. Other names for Mondeuse Noire include Grosse Syrah, Molette Noire, and Savoyance. There are theories that Mondeuse and the Italian Refosco are the same variety, but this has not been proven, and some evidence suggests that it may not be true. In California, there is a variety called Refosco that’s related to Mondeuse but not to samples of the Italian Refosco that were available for DNA testing.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.