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Marsannay is the most northern appellation of the Cote de Nuits sub-region of Burgundy. Encompassing the villages of Marsanny-la-Cote, Chenove and Couchey, the communal appellation is unique in Burgundy for covering red, white and rose wine. Other than Marsannay, the production of rose wines is restricted to the Bourgogne regional appellations (such as Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains and Cremant de Bourgogne).
The grapes used to produce Marsannay wine are the key varieties found throughout the Cote d'Or. Pinot Noir is the principal variety used for reds; Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc are employed for whites (Pinot Gris is also permitted in small quantities); and a combination of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, with up to 10% Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, goes into the rose wines.
Marsannay wines are not of particular note in the Cote d'Or, except for the unusual presence of rose wine, which first appeared here at the beginning of the 20th century. The red wines are light and fruity, while the whites are characterized by notes of citrus and acacia – making them similar in style to the white wines of the Cote Chalonnaise.
Often referred to as the Porte d'Or ('Golden Gate') to the Cote de Nuits, Marsannay – and particularly the village of Chenove – is being slowly engulfed by the southwards expansion of Dijon. As Burgundy's largest city and its administrative center, Dijon has a population of about a quarter of a million people; its residential, commercial and industrial developments are migrating further south into the wine-growing lands of the northern Cote d'Or each year.
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