From: Saint-Peray, Rhone Valley, France
Varietal: Marsanne
Taste: As noted by Jeb Dunnuck, with a score of 91/100, the wine exudes citrus and orange pith-like aromatics, medium-bodied richness, and nicely integrated acidity. Its clean, classy style makes it an excellent companion for the dinner table over the next 2-4 years.
Pairing: The wine pairs with lighter fare, such as grilled seafood, fresh salads, and soft cheeses. Its vibrant acidity and citrus notes make it an excellent match for dishes with a hint of spice or citrus-based dressings.
Tardivo Salad With Pistachio and Citrus
Recipe from Mary Attea
Adapted by Nikita Richardson
About: Nestled in the heart of France's Rhone Valley, the Domain Alain Voge has carved a niche for itself as a producer of exceptional wines with a history steeped in tradition and innovation. The Saint-Peray appellation, where this wine originates, is renowned for its 100% Marsanne grape variety. The vines, averaging thirty years in age, are deeply rooted in a unique terroir that blends colluvium with coarse sand, granite, and clay-limestone. This blend of soils lends a distinctive character to the wines produced here. The vineyards, notably from localities like Le Plantier, Prieuré, and Chamblard, benefit from their strategic positioning, contributing significantly to the grapes' quality for this wine.
Adopting organic and biodynamic methods since the 2009 vintage, the vineyard's dedication to sustainable practices is evident. The Marsanne vines are meticulously trained and pruned in the Gobelet style and supported by stakes, ensuring optimal growth. The harvest is conducted by hand, a testament to the winery's dedication to preserving quality at every step. The winemaking process, undertaken at low temperatures in concrete vats, is followed by malo-lactic fermentation and maturation on fine lees in the same vats for about eight months. The wine is bottled in spring, post-harvest, with reduced sulfite at 72 mg/l total SO2, notably lower than the 150 mg/l authorized in organic winemaking. This careful attention to detail is reflected in the production of 9,920 bottles, each capturing the essence of the Saint-Peray terroir.
The 2021 vintage of Saint-Peray Harmonie emerged from a challenging year. The historical frost on April 8th significantly impacted the vineyard, resulting in a 50% loss in Saint-Péray and producing only two wines: Harmonie and Fleur de Crussol. Despite these challenges, the wines exhibit remarkable quality, a testament to the vines' resilience and the winemakers' adeptness. The vintage, characterized by its old-school freshness, delicacy, and smoothness, is marked by lower alcohol levels due to the rainy season and late harvest.
