Muscardin



Muscardin is a dark-skinned grape variety primarily found in the southern part of the Rhône region. It is primarily noted for being one of the thirteen grape varieties permitted in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. It is a very rare variety, and in 2004 only 0.4% of the appellation's vineyards were planted with Muscardin.

The resulting red wines tends to have high acid levels, low alcohol, light tannic structure but can show attractive flowery aromas. The color is also lighter than most Rhone varieties and the wine is prone to the wine fault of oxidation.

Relationship to other grape varieties
Muscardin appears to be nearly identical to Mondeuse noire except that it has less sensitivity to downy mildew. They are however not thought to be the same variety.

Synonyms
Muscardin is also known under the synonyms Muscadin and Muscardin noir.