Monday, May 25, 2009

2006 Krupp Brothers, “Black Bart” Marsanne

Aromas: peach blossoms, honeysuckle, jasmine, honey, apricots, almonds
Body: full
Color: straw yellow

From the website: WINEMAKER: Nigel Kinsman joined the team at Krupp Brothers in October 2006. Nigel has earned many accolades and the respect of the wider Australian wine community by crafting complex and balanced wines at Hay Shed Hill in Margaret River, Western Australia. Prior to that, Nigel gained experience at several of Australia's top wineries and honed his skills with Italian varietals as winemaker for boutique Chianti winery Tolaini, under the guiding hand of winemaking consultant, Michel Roland. Nigel firmly believes that wines are "grown not made."

Krupp Brothers Marsanne comes from a gently sloping south-facing block at Stagecoach Vineyard, containing 2 excellent French Marsanne clones, 574 and a Tablas Creek field selection.

Tasting Notes: Straw yellow, brilliant clarity; Intense lifted nose, displaying a wonderful complexity of flavors—honey suckle, orange blossom, jasmine tea, almond kernels, fennel, lemon and freshly harvested honeycomb. The palate is full, polished and balanced with flavors of citrus, peach and apricots. The texture is succulent and creamy complemented by a steely minerality.

Eat with: beet & feta salad - olive oil & herb marinated feta, pickled vegetables, upland cress & yellow beet vinaigrette