Tried this Fri night w/ Susan:
1. Qupe Marsanne Sawyer-Lindquist Vnyd/EdnaVlly (20% Viognier; 13.8%; Demeter) 2012: Med.light gold color; some stony/Marsanne/appley rather floral/peach/pear very fragrant/perfumed nose; rather tart/tangy/metallic appley/stony/Marsanne light peach/pear/Viog light mineral/stony/chalky beautiful perfumed flavor; very long/lingering bit appley/stony/minerally/Marsanne quite perfumey Viog/pear/peach finish w/ a very floral aftertaste that wells up in the packtaste; a beautiful white w/ the stony structure of Marsanne and the perfume of Viognier; should go out 10 yrs or longer. $28.00
_____________________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This is one of the best Qupe young Marsannes I can recall. Bob has been making 100% Marsanne for quite a few yrs. The wine, on release, was rather stony/appley simple and really didn't show much. But, w/ age, it's glories really show as it developes this nutty/toasted hazelnuts/honeyed very complex character. In recent yrs (6-7 yrs), Bob has started blending in Roussanne to give the wine more fragrance upon release. I see no reason that this should detract from its ability to age. This is the first Marssanne that I recall him blending in Viognier.
_______________
2. Sawyer-Lindquist: This vnyd was planted in 2005 just across OrcuttRd from JohnAlban. It is farmed biodynamicaly and Demeter certified. The wines are now made by bio-dynamic principles as well. As I've been tasting the wines off S-L, I'm convinced that, w/ greater vine age, this will be one of the truly great vnyds, for Rhone & Spanish varieties, in Calif. The S-L Viognier is, to my take, one of the best Viogniers made in Calif. This Marsanne ranks right up there w/ that.
Tom