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Marsanne (Ermitage, in Switzerland) is a full bodied white wine-grape that is commonly blended with Roussanne.
Often touted as a Chardonnay alternative, Marsanne has weight and structure, but often lacks the fruit and perfume needed to make it a ‘complete’ wine. This explains the long-standing tradition of blending it with the more aromatic Roussanne or Clairette.
The tradition has its roots in the steep, granite-based soils of Hermitage of the northern Rhone, but is also used in the broader Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph appellations. In the Savoie and Languedoc, however, Viognier and Rolle are often used as blending partners. As a single varietal wine, Marsanne can be produced in a number of styles. In Valais, Switzerland, and northern Italy, it is produced as both sweet and dry wines.
The Marsanne grape probably originated in the northern Rhone Valley, most likely from the area around the village of the same name, and it is one of the eight permitted grape varieties in the Cotes du Rhone appellation. It is grown extensively in California and Washington, but the grape seems to have found a natural home in Australia, where three quarters of the world's Marsanne is now grown.
Marsanne first made its way to Australia in the 1860s where it was planted in the state of Victoria and South Australia. The Tahbilk winery was among the first to grow Marsanne in the Nagambie Lakes district, and now boasts what may be the oldest productive Marsanne vines in the world, the ‘1927 Vines Marsanne’. Old vine Marsanne has the potential to age for up to 15 years and can develop deep amber colors and nutty, orange-marmalade flavors.
In its youth Marsanne may be lightly colored with straw, and even green, hues. There is a typical earthen minerality to good quality Marsanne with honeysuckle and melon notes being characteristic of the young wine.
Marsanne’s berry clusters tend to be loose and the variety is more productive and less temperamental than Roussanne. In hot climates, Marsanne can struggle to develop enough acidity to prevent its weight from muting its flavor, but cooler climates can produce complex and age-worthy wine.
Blends: Marsanne – Roussanne, Clairette - Marsanne
Synonyms: Marsana, Ermitage, Ermitage Blanc, Grosse Roussette, Hermitage
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