Mordorée

History of Domaine de la Mordorée

The story began in 1986, when Francis Delorme and his son Christophe laid the foundations of the estate in Tavel. The chosen name pays tribute to the woodcock, a remarkable bird that Francis, an avid hunter, deeply admired: “mordorée” is both a color and one of the bird’s nicknames. Four other nicknames for the woodcock would give their names to the house’s cuvées—La Remise, La Dame Rousse, La Dame Voyageuse and La Reine des Bois—creating an instantly recognizable identity.

Over thirty years, Christophe Delorme raised Domaine de la Mordorée to the ranks of the finest estates. Out of love for the land, this passionate, visionary perfectionist chose early on to respect the terroir, steering the property toward organic and then biodynamic farming. Christophe’s brother joined the team in 1999, and the estate gradually expanded into neighboring appellations. Christophe’s sudden death in 2015 marked a turning point. His wife Madeleine, until then a sophrologist, was thrust from the intangible world of her practice into the world of winegrowing. Supported by their daughter Ambre, she chose to preserve the business to which her husband had devoted himself wholeheartedly, relying on the team he had built and staying the course he had set. The estate earned Demeter certification in 2020, confirming its deep environmental commitment. Today, La Mordorée remains sought after for its Tavel, Lirac and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine de la Mordorée

The estate’s terroirs are the legacy of millions of years of tectonic movement, climate change, glacial advances and retreats, and successive inundations by seas, lakes and vast rivers. This geological history explains the remarkable diversity of the soils under cultivation. They include rounded pebbles deposited by the Rhône, limestone slabs, clay-silica soils, sandy terraces and, around Condrieu, steep granite terraces.

The vineyard’s division into nearly forty plots across eight municipalities is the house’s greatest asset: it allows complex blends to be built from markedly different expressions. La Reine des Bois Lirac comes from the renowned Vallongue plateau, while La Dame Rousse brings together rounded pebbles, limestone slabs and sandy soils. The range of grape varieties is exceptionally broad: Grenache Noir leads the reds and rosés, alongside Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise, Carignan, Vaccarèse, Brun Argenté, Merlot and Marselan. The whites include Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Picpoul Blanc and Viognier. Some plots have vines averaging sixty years of age. The entire vineyard is farmed organically and biodynamically, with biodynamic practices extending into the cellar, and all harvesting is done by hand.

Winemaking at Domaine de la Mordorée

Convinced that great wines begin with high-quality grapes, the estate pays close attention to every stage, from harvest to bottling. For the reds, the grapes are fully destemmed and crushed, followed by a long maceration and fermentation lasting about thirty days under strict temperature control. Only indigenous yeasts are used, and sulfites are kept to the bare minimum.

Aging favors purity of fruit over the influence of oak: the reds spend about 20% of their time in previously used barrels and 80% in stainless steel tanks, while only 10% of the whites are aged in barrels. The whites also undergo destemming, crushing and skin contact. The Tavel rosés are made using the appellation’s traditional method, with brief macerations that give them their deep color and food-friendly structure. The result is generous, smooth wines, almost creamy on entry, whose texture then firms up, making them remarkably easy to drink, with long finishes and excellent aging potential.

The cuvées of Domaine de la Mordorée

Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois Rouge: the estate’s flagship cuvée, from four hectares of rounded pebbles over clay-silica soil, with old vines averaging sixty years of age. The blend comprises 70% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 5% Counoise, 5% Syrah and 5% Vaccarèse. A very dark, opaque ruby color, with aromas of red fruit (strawberry, cherry), black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry), violet and licorice that develop notes of leather and truffle over time. Concentrated, rich and expansive on the palate, with a very long finish of fruit and licorice.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Dame Voyageuse Rouge: the estate’s second cuvée from the appellation, more immediately approachable and supple than La Reine des Bois, but made to the same exacting standards. Ripe black fruit, garrigue and gentle spice over silky tannins. An excellent introduction to the house’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Reine des Bois Blanc: the white counterpart to the flagship cuvée, blending the appellation’s traditional white grape varieties. Rich and expansive, it combines white fruit, fennel and flowers with lovely mineral tension on the finish.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Plume du Peintre: an exceptional cuvée produced only in vintages deemed remarkable, and in tiny quantities. Regularly awarded 96 points or more, it achieves a level of concentration, complexity and refinement that places it among the appellation’s finest. A collector’s bottle built for twenty years or more in the cellar.

Tavel La Reine des Bois Rosé: from the only French appellation devoted exclusively to rosé, this cuvée blends five traditional Rhône grape varieties, led by Grenache. A robust, full-bodied rosé with concentrated raspberry and red cherry at its core, accented by sage and spice, and the structure of a wine made for the table. The essence of Tavel for fine dining.

Tavel La Dame Rousse Rosé: the estate’s most accessible Tavel cuvée, both powerful and fruity. Deep color, vibrant red fruit and a fresh finish make this a rosé that stands up to the most boldly seasoned dishes.

Tavel La Plume du Peintre Rosé: the exceptionally rare rosé version of this outstanding cuvée, produced only in the best years. A showcase of Tavel at its finest.

Lirac La Reine des Bois Rouge: from the renowned Vallongue plateau, it is considered the essence of the appellation. Dense texture, black fruit, spice and garrigue, with polished tannins and remarkable length. It holds its own against many Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.

Lirac La Reine des Bois Blanc: a blend of the full range of white Rhône varieties, led by Grenache Blanc. Rich and full-bodied, it reveals yellow fruit, white flowers and a saline thread that lends it length.

Lirac La Dame Rousse Rouge: a blend of several terroirs—rounded pebbles, limestone slabs and sandy soils. A round, fruity Lirac, delicious even in its youth and excellent value for money.

Côtes du Rhône Rouge: the everyday cuvée, supple and lively, with red fruit and gentle spice. The best way to discover the estate’s style at an approachable price.

Côtes du Rhône Rosé: a fresh, fruit-forward rosé, lighter than the house’s Tavel wines and perfect for aperitifs and summer meals.

Condrieu Cuvée Christophe Delorme: a tribute to the late winemaker, this cuvée is made entirely from Viognier grown on the granite terraces typical of this northern Rhône appellation. Apricot, white flowers and exotic fruit meet a generous palate supported by lovely freshness. A rare and moving bottle.

La Remise de la Mordorée Rouge: a Vin de France conceived as an introduction to the range, fruit-forward and immediately approachable, with vibrant fruit and supple tannins.

La Remise de la Mordorée Rosé: the rosé in this accessible range, lively and refreshing, to be served well chilled on any occasion.

Tableau de Terroir Les Sables, Clairette: a single-varietal Clairette from the estate’s sandy plots, vinified to express the purity of this southern grape, too often relegated to blends. Floral freshness, tension and salinity.

Tableau de Terroir Les Lauzes, Grenache Noir: a single-varietal Grenache grown on limestone slabs, part of a series highlighting the distinctive expression of each of the estate’s soil types. Vibrant fruit, spice and a long mineral finish.