WTN: a nice white from Marsannay

On way back from city last night stopped at the uptown Fairway for some fish as well as staples. Got home, I made chard and skate Grenobloise while Betsy used up some leftover rice by making fried rice. Nice dinner, accompanied by the 2008 Bart "Les Favieres Chardonnay Musque" Marsannay blanc. OK, I'm assuming Les Favieres is a lieu dit, and Musque a clone (I've heard of Sauvignon Blanc Musque, though not Chardonnay). Not very musky, more of a clean floral nose. Medium bodied, crisp Bosc pear fruit, good acids, nice length for a $20 white Burg. Something a bit more tangy/nutty like an Italian white might have been a better match with the caper sauce, but this did ok, and the match is my fault not the wine in any case. Another glass later in evening is quite satisfying, and I'll order more. B+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.  

Hi Dale,

i'm into white Marsannay too.
I visited Mongeard-Mugneret in Vosne Romanée last week and bought six bottles of their 2006 for 15 euros a bottle.
I considered this a good bargain in light of the quality.

All the best,
Alex

Dale,

I've not heard of a Musque SB but have tasted the Chardonnay Musque from at least one place in Niagara, Chateau des Charmes (http://www.chateaudescharmes.com/the_wi ... ttled.html , second wine on the list). I do recall it having a tiny bit of honeysuckle muscat character, but didn't find it compelling (I'm a fan of muscat based wines in general). The Bart wines from Marsannay are enjoyable, though.

From Wikipedia, source of all wisdom:

"Chardonnay has served as parent to several French-American hybrid grapes, as well as crossings with other Vitis vinifera varieties. Examples include the hybrid Chardonel which was a Chardonnay and Seyval blanc cross produced in 1953 at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Mutations of the Chardonnay grape include the rare pink-berried "Chardonnay Rose"; also "Chardonnay Blanc Musqué", which produces an intensely aromatic wine.[2] Chardonnay Blanc Musqué is most mostly found around the Mâconnais village of Clessé and sometimes confused with the Dijon-166 clone planted in South Africa, which yields Muscat-like aromas.[4]"

Alex, I don't think I've ever had a Mongeard-Mugneret white, but there reds have long offered good value. Thanks for the note re the Musque clone.

Joe, I know Cain and a couple other CA SBs have Musque in their name. I like the Bart reds and rose, this is my first white.

Joe, I know Cain and a couple other CA SBs have Musque in their name. I like the Bart reds and rose, this is my first white.

Dale,
Merry Edwards is a longtime supporter of the SB Musque clone. Her SBs for Matanzas Creek in the '80s featured the Musque clone, and her current, eponymous SBs also are made from the Musque clone. It is quite distinctive in character, with an overt floral character.

Mark Lipton