2021 Blue Mountain Vineyard Marsanne
Tasting notes
Marsanne is often maligned and sometimes justifiably so if it’s flabby. On the other hand, it produces some of the greatest white wines in the world. Owing to its relatively high glycerol, marsanne can create rich and concentrated wines with great mouthfeel and if made properly can age well.
Subtle notes of fennel, clove, white pepper, and honey. Concentrated and pure with a medium to full bodied mid-palate. Roasted peach, almond paste, quince, and a nice spiciness. There’s a dusty minerality on the long zesty finish. Pairs well with food. We recommend seafood with a rich cream sauce like Coquilles St. Jacques. This is a white wine that will benefit from some aging. A little oxidation will bring out the more savory and spicy tones, plus it has the acidity to remain lively. Try drinking this in a couple years through 10 years from vintage.
This wine is fermented with yeast indigenous to the vineyard, unfined and unfiltered. You may see haze or sediment in the wine, but fear not, this is a natural part of the winemaking process.
Production notes
The fruit was handpicked in late August, sorted by hand, and after crushing was left on skins for 24 hours or so. A long, cool primary fermentation of approximately 30 days was employed to maintain freshness, aromatics, and a fruit-forward style. The wine underwent full secondary fermentation, resulting in a bit more weight on the palate. Fermented and aged in neutral French oak, the wine was aged on lees, which were stirred once a week through primary and secondary fermentation and without racking.
Vintage | 2021 |
Varietal | Marsanne |
Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
Vineyard | Blue Mountain |
Alcohol | 13.50% |
Volume | 750 ml |
Blue Mountain Vineyard is in the foothills of the Blue Mountains on the Eastern side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA and sits at 1,200 feet elevation. The vineyard uses Old English Southdown “Babydoll” Sheep to provide an environmentally friendly way of maintaining vineyard groundcover and soil fertility. The soil is silt loam (loess) with excellent drainage. Exceptional airflow, ever-changing sun exposure, and moderate amounts of rain make this an ideal growing location.