2023 Place of Changing Winds Marsanne/Roussanne
2023 Place of Changing Winds Marsanne/Roussanne
Our Grower white wine comes from Harcourt North in Victoria’s Bendigo G.I., about an hours’ drive north of our Macedon cellars. With its pure, sandy, granitic soils, and mild climate, we believe this place is one of Australia’s most exciting places for Rhone varieties, both white and red. The eroded granite soils, and the mild climate, allows for a full ripening cycle (we always harvest in March). As always, the grapes were picked fully ripe, pressed firmly and sent straight to barrel (500 and 228 litres), concrete egg and 220-litre glass Wineglobe, for both fermentation and aging with all the fine lees. Malolactic occurred naturally and the wine was bottled in November 2024 without fining or filtration.
This is the polar opposite of the ‘pinot gris’ style of many Australian Marsanne’s that are picked early, inoculated, tank reared and filtered. It will certainly age well, gaining more honeyed characters, but is equally delicious now. It has the power and richness of previous releases, yet with good vibrancy thanks to Harcourt’s micro-climate and the inclusion of Roussanne.
Alcohol: 14.4%. Closure: Diam 30.
“This sits at medium weight, slippery and glossy in texture, quietly concentrated with light honeyed elements in just-ripe nectarine, just-ripe peach, a tangerine element, faint vanilla cream notes and a sprinkle of cinnamon spice. It feels like the bandwidth delivers complexity, layers to flavour, appeal in the fog of sweeter fruit spectrum characters, a bit of pawpaw bitter-sweet in the mix overall too. Captures attention, delivers depth, feels composed. Class act.” 94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
“The 2023 Harcourt Marsanne has a little of Roussanne as well and leads with a delicately perfumed nose of rose oil, pineapple, green apple, camphor, lemon oil, apricot flowers and green almonds. In the mouth, the acidity provides elegant slice and dice. This is all about nuts and pastry, baking spices and crushed rocks. It's really good. We have come to expect a lot from this producer, and they do not disappoint. 14% alcohol, sealed under Diam.” 95 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate