Marsanne

Wine of the Week

Marsanne is a white grape variety originally found in the northern Rhone in France where it is usually blended with Rousanne. Marsanne usually produces full bodied wines with a richness to them that allows them to age well. They tend to have flavours of pears, apples, some nuttiness, and nice honeyed notes that develop with age.


If you go looking for Marsanne the best will be found in Ermitage or Hermitage France, but we're talking $60-500. Most will be found in blends with Rousanne and Voigner. I found a nice one single variety from Australia at the BCL and I believe Road 13 in the Okanagan have one as well. They are hard to find as single variety wines, so if you find one it might mean a delicious surprise. They pair well with lot's of food and can be a nice change from the usual whites.



TAHBILK - Marsanne -  Central Victoria Australia - 2011            - BC Liquor = $18.49


This was a great surprise; a delicious wine with a lot going on. On the nose there's coconut husk, an almost ripe peach, some faint floral notes and a shy wet stone lingering in the depths. The palate is dominated by lemon rinds, honeycomb, honeysuckle and that wet pet rock you named "Honey". This wine is dry and the 2011 starting to show a little age with crisp acidity and good length on the finish.