2016 Mount Mary Marli Russell White (RP1)

40% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne, 20% Clairette. 2016 was a rather warm, dry vintage, perfectly suited to the traditional Southern Rhône varieties we have growing here at Mount Mary. We have adopted a similar approach to the way we make our other white wines at Mount Mary. Barrel fermenting, lees stirring and relatively hard pressing give this wine great texture and depth of flavour. We pick these varieties relatively early to avoid excessive viscosity, which can occur when these varieties are grown in warmer climates and picked riper. These varieties were initially intended for blending with the other seven varieties planted; however, we decided they had too much potential as a stand-alone white blend. The Clairette makes its debut in the 2016 RP1. We feel it contributes to an improved, more complex blend. We look forward to the evolution of this wine as our new vineyards develop some age and we continue to learn more about how these varieties grow at Mount Mary.
The 2016 RP1 bursts from the glass with beautiful floral aromas of lychee, white peach, pear and fresh lime. Aromatically, the Roussanne and Clairette play a more dominant role than that of the Marsanne. The Marsanne gives this blend its delicious fresh pear and honeydew sweetness in the mid palate. The Roussanne offers exceptional drive and focus due to its naturally high acid profile and excellent phenolic structure. It’s a wine with great length where the intensity seems to build on the back palate, long after the wine has departed. – Sam Middleton, Mount Mary