Search - > 2006 Wrattonbully Vineyards Marsanne Viognier - Australia - South Australia
Pale straw in colour, the nose offers up an interesting array of scents from the high floral to the deep base almost waxy dried apricot tones, really quite different and complicated on the nose. On the palate the wine initially delivers some honeyed peach, with fresh acidity, but then the base tones start to develop, its deep and nutty, reminiscent of a very decent Hermitage Blanc, but at a fraction of the price. Six months aging in French oak has allowed the flavours to develop and knit together, this is the first vintage of this wine from this new producer and what a debut it is, fantastic, buy his by the van load, it will not hang around. Being the first ever vintage, its difficult to say how long it will last, but I’d bet on this continuing to improve for another year or so and drink well through 2010, but I might be wrong, if it does stand up like Hermitage, it could go on for 15 years…
Currently rated as the World's Top Marsanne Viognier Blend and in the top ten White Wines of the 2006 Vintage by price.
90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Marsanne (60%) – Viognier (40%) was fermented with native yeasts in seasoned French oak. It remained on the lees for 6 months with regular battonage. Medium straw-colored, it offers complex aromas of mineral, honey, candle wax, and pit fruits. This leads to a medium-bodied, round, ripe, intensely flavored wine with excellent length. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.
This very complicated wine will stand up to most types of rich or spicy chicken or fish dishes, roasted vegetables, pasta with almost any sauce, and of course virtually any game bird, but I could not think of a better white wine partner to match Goose.
First planted in the 1860’s in Australia, Marsanne is still a relatively rare white wine variety both in Australia and in its traditional home - the northern Rhone Valley in France. Much more the new kid on the block, Viognier was first planted in Australia in the late 1970’s. Its opulent nature has appealed to many and resulted in a rapid rise in popularity.
