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2023 Ardèche Syrah “Syrah Mauve”
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne
This cuvée comes from two granite lieux-dits from the hills above the Rhône, the Collines Rhodaniennes. It tastes of pure Syrah, like a baby Saint-Joseph, and is great for any time you want an unmistakable taste of the region and its smoky, peppery reds.
—Jane Augustine
| Wine Type: | red |
| Vintage: | 2023 |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | Syrah |
| Appellation: | IGP Ardèche |
| Country: | France |
| Region: | Northern Rhône |
| Producer: | Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne |
| Winemaker: | Jean-Claude Marsanne |
| Vineyard: | Planted in 2016, .77 ha |
| Soil: | Granite |
| Aging: | Fermented in stainless steel tanks for 4 weeks without SO2. Aged in stainless steel tanks for 11 months |
| Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
| Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
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2022 Saint-Joseph Rouge
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The kind of Saint-Jo to dig into right away: smoky, layered, lush, and laced with violet, bay leaf, and black olive.
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Yearning for northern Rhône magic? Here you go. Pull a cork or more and see what I mean.
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About The Producer
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne
The Marsanne family, as their name attests, has a long and deep-rooted history in the northern Rhône, in particular around Mauves, the birthplace of the Saint-Joseph appellation. In 1920, current owner Jean-Claude’s grandfather, Jean-Pierre, became the first in the family to focus solely on vineyards—no easy task given the impossibly steep slopes of Mauves, where everything must be worked by hand and pickaxe. Jean-Pierre started with just a few small parcels, selling off his crop to prestigious négociants, and was quickly renowned throughout the region for the exceptional quality of his grapes. His untimely passing in 1950 forced his son, Jean, to quit school at age 16 to take over the domaine. He continued his father’s work in earnest, his vineyards often being recognized amongst the village’s best, not just for their exposition and soil, but also for the attention to detail young Jean paid to each vine. The grape sales financed some small land purchases in and around Mauves, and the domaine slowly grew to 3 hectares. In 1970, Jean made the leap to begin making and bottling the wines himself. Over time, a small, but loyal following developed, especially among France’s fine dining establishments, which valued the finesse and elegance of Marsanne’s cuvées. The domaine remained largely unknown on the international scene, overlooked by many journalists and clients who sought out bolder, more extracted styles.
Since taking over from Jean in 1991, Jean-Claude has continued to add select new parcels, growing the domaine to 9.6 hectares. While still mostly focused on Syrah from the hallowed terroir of Mauves, he now farms a few small plots of Marsanne for his Saint-Joseph blanc, as well as some Viognier and Syrah in the Ardèche hills west of the village. He also inherited a superb plot of Crozes-Hermitage that once belonged to his grandmother.
Kermit came across Jean Marsanne during his early adventures in France in the 1970s, and was struck by the wines’ aromatic complexity and Jean’s meticulous care for the vineyards. He even managed to import a few bottles in those early days. Kermit and the Marsannes lost touch and life went on, until decades later when Kermit spotted a familiar label while dining out in Paris. The bottle was ordered, uncorked, and an old collaboration was renewed.
Jean-Claude holds tightly to the traditions of his family. These include farming the steepest parcels by hand, as was done by his grandfather; using indigenous yeasts for slow, natural fermentations, like his father taught him; and aging his wines extensively on fine lees, releasing each cuvée at its most expressive moment. The reunion with Marsanne is one of great pride on both sides.
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2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
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2021 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
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2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses”
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2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc
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2022 Saint-Joseph Rouge
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2022 Saint-Joseph “Les Grisières”
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2023 Saint-Joseph Rouge “Terre Blanche”
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2020 Hermitage Blanc “La Pierrelle”
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2022 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
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2022 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
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2023 Saint-Joseph Rouge
Domaine Monier Perréol France | Northern Rhône
2023 Condrieu
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2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
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2021 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses”
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2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.