Sharing a name with the regional white grape variety, how could the Marsanne family become anything other than wine growers? Fortunately the family has shown a real flair for making wine for several generations. Their property lies in Mauves, the historic centre of the Saint-Joseph appellation, and boasts some very high-quality, old vines planted on the hillsides of Mauves and Tournon. The Marsannes have been heavily influenced by organic farming and their practices are very respectful. The soil is tilled regularly, grape yields are restricted, and at harvest time (manual of course) the grapes are picked when they are ripe and sorted directly in situ. When they get to the winery they are sorted again before undergoing traditional vinification. These astonishingly pure wines are an authentic and classy reflection of the Saint-Joseph terroir.

From a granite soil, a vineyard of 40-year-old vines offers a structured wine with aromas of almost candied fruit and some mineral notes. Its nose gives off some subtle hints of spice. It’s a beautiful expression of its appellation, having been matured for 12 months in oak barrels.