2021 Frederick Stevenson Marsanne Roussanne
VARIETAL: Marsanne, Roussanne
REGION: Barossa Valley, SA
VITICULTURE: Certified Biodynamic
WINEMAKER: Steve Crawford
"Barossa Valley-> Sub region: Vine Vale, Certified Biodynamically Grown. Sand on Clay. Always tiny quantities made of this wine - unfortunately some markets won’t have access to this.... There isn’t enough to go around.
Picked together, 2 days of skin contact, then pressed to fairly neutral oak. Natural ferment and left on lees for 9 months. 1 month of stainless steel tank settling then. Bottled in early Jan.
I have scaled back the skin contact over the last few years - mainly as a result of a decrease in natural acidity in the grapes, but also this reflects my own drinking patterns / pursuits. It always the varieties and vineyard speak a little more rather than just winemaking technique...
The nose is a mix of honey’d and spiced poached quinces and pears, with a touch of lemon peel and curd in the background. As always the wine has a touch of an oily / slippery feels that gets pulled together by some refreshing acid, a lick of tannin and spice from the Roussanne and the vine vale vineyard."
Steve Crawford started his Barossa label under the pseudonym of Frederick Stevenson whilst working at a larger winery. One of the nicest guys in wine that continues to impress each and every year.