Marsanne
Marsanne is a white grape variety native to the Rhône Valley, with its origins variously traced to the area around Montélimar or Tain-l’Hermitage. It is one of the key white varieties of the northern Rhône appellations of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Saint-Péray, where it is often blended with the more aromatic Roussanne.
Marsanne produces rich, golden-hued wines with a broad, full-bodied structure and considerable ageing potential. Relatively restrained in its youth, it develops aromas of honey, dried fruit, white flowers, quince and warm stone with age, sometimes accompanied by a touch of bitter almond. On the palate, Marsanne is rounded and generous, sometimes with a rich, glycerous texture, balanced by a fine bitterness and a warm finish. Relatively little Marsanne is planted outside the Rhône, although it can be found in pockets of Languedoc, including at La Grange des Pères, as well as Savoie and Australia. In Victoria, some historic estates successfully produce Marsanne as a single-variety wine.
Several celebrated Rhône producers showcase Marsanne’s potential in carefully crafted, expressive wines, including Jean-Louis Chave, M. Chapoutier, Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff, and E. Guigal.
