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Quick, name three wine varietals that age well…
What did you come up with? Cabernet Sauvignon? Riesling? Nebbiolo? Chardonnay?
How many of you said Marsanne? If you have even heard of it as a varietal, you almost certainly didn’t name it as one that ages well. But it does. And one that is aging quite well, thank you, is our October wine of the month, the 2018 SummerWood Winery Marsanne Paso Robles.
Marsanne is a white grape of the Northern Rhône Valley that is more often blended with Roussanne than appearing as a varietal. It is a full-bodied wine typified by aromas and flavors of apricot, Mandarin orange, and honeysuckle. It traditionally has medium to medium minus acid. That might cause you to wonder how it can age so successfully. Well, acid is not the only factor in play when it comes to aging. Weight and texture also matter as well as the evolution of aromas.
The 2018 SummerWood Winery Marsanne comes from Paso Robles, which has soil and climate similar to the Northern Rhône Valley. White wines get darker over time, and this Marsanne, which began life as pale lemon, is now an appealing deep gold. The wine is full bodied and viscous, with a creamy mouthfeel. After aging for six years, the primary characteristics have been replaced with their tertiary counterparts of palate-coating bruised red apple, dried apricot, dried banana, nuttiness, petrol, and honey. It has evolved in a way that is akin to a fine Riesling. There is medium acid, which gives it enough of a backbone to carry the wine through to a long, balanced finish. An aged Marsanne is one of the true underrated treats in the wine world, and this vintage from SummerWood Winery is a wonderful representation.
Of course, the trick is the patience to age it. SummerWood Winery makes it a bit easier on you by offering such a great value. The 2022 release is only $35. Buy half a case, and stagger them over the years. Open one right away and make notes about your drinking experience. Then, drink one every 18 months thereafter and consider the evolution of the wine. You will be rewarded and have a new go-to in your repertoire.
For making an exceptional Marsanne with outstanding aging potential at a reasonable price, the 2018 SummerWood Winery Marsanne Paso Robles is our October wine of the month.
Learn more about SummerWood Winery, follow them, and purchase their wine here:
https://www.summerwoodwine.com
@thesummerwoodwinery
