The Grape: Marselan 100%

The Appellation: Pays D’Oc IGT, France

Description: Marselan is a varietal produced in 1961 by crossing Grenache with Cabernet Sauvignon.  Very fruity and lively with balsamic, small berry fruit (blackcurrant, wild strawberry, blueberry) aromas, with a lovely, mellow concentration. Easy-drinking.

The Vineyards: Over 100 hectares in irrigated gravel.  Marselan was recommended to southern France in 1997 due to climate change heating up that region. Marselan is moderately vigorous, late-maturing variety with small berries and very little juice, making it a highly concentrated wine.

The Winemaking After vatting, the grapes are “bled” to 15% to concentrate the must.  Fermentation takes place between 26-28 degrees Celsius. Extraction is carried out by several pump-overs and rack-and-return processes during the first third of fermentation.  At the end of the process, the tank is left to macerate for 3-4 weeks in order to obtain the desired richness and complexity on the palate. Matured on the lees for 2 months.

Alcohol Content: 13.5%

The Winemakers: Made by Vignobles Foncalieu of southern France when they noticed that the often blended Marselan grape was actually quite good on its own.  At the edge of the Mediterranean sea, the Oppidum Romain d’Ensérune dominates the terroir of the Ensédune wines. It is characterized by one of the warmest and dryest climates of France located at the west of Béziers. Proud of a thousand-year-old tradition, our winegrowers were keen to develop their vineyards by acclimatizing grape varieties from various horizons. Created by teamwork, the Ensédune range is the product of generations of collaboration by winegrowers and presents unusual grape varieties for monovarietal wines. With Ensédune, discover the essence of Languedoc !

Winery’s Website: Vignobles Foncalieu

Pairs Well With: Wild game, red meat, and hard cheese.