Winemaker Notes
Marsau is a plateau, an unusual, rugged, clay terroir. The vines are deeply rooted in the earth and here reveal their true expression, sensitive to the intricacies of the soils and landscape, and exposed to the nuances of climate. They cultivate the vines with their true potential guiding their every step; the resulting fruit is of great quality and diversity, as varied as the many facets of the terroir itself. Merlot takes a presiding role in plantings and in their wines is the inimitable hallmark of a sense of place, replete with freshness, depth and intensity. The intrinsic character of the landscape allied with silky tannins.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is really delicious and already so drinkable with rich cherry and plum character, as well as stone and cement. Medium to full body, creamy and medium-round tannins and a long finish. Burst of red fruit with tile. Crunchy. Savory.
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Wine Spectator
Singed cedar, savory and humus accents run alongside a core of currant and bitter cherry fruit, imbuing this with an old-school feel. Reveals a chalky mineral note on the finish. A touch austere but shows good character.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
On the right bank of Bordeaux between St. Emilion and Bergerac, Cotes de Francs boasts southwestern exposed slopes that produce robust Merlot-based wines. A tiny amount of Sémillon is grown and made in both dry and sweet styles.