2019 Lindquist Family Marsanne
This wine is 100% Marsanne from the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard (aka Slide Hill) in the Edna Valley, 10 miles southeast of the city of San Luis Obispo. The vineyard was originally planted in 2005, with the Marsanne block added in 2008. In 2009 we got the vineyard Demeter Certified Biodynamic, a distinction the wine carries too. We used budwood from the Ibarra-Young Vineyard in the Los Olivos District, a vineyard that I’ve been working with since 1986. We got that budwood from Randall Grahm at Bonny Doon.
2019 was a relatively normal growing year weather wise. Compared to most vintages over the last 10 years, 2019 was on the cool side, with ideal ripening conditions during Harvest. We harvested the Marsanne on September 27th at 21.9° brix, 3.22 pH and 6.7 acidity, great numbers!
The grapes were whole cluster pressed, the juice chilled and settled in tank for 48 hours, then transferred to neutral French oak barrels for fermentation and aging. The wine went through complete malo, and was aged for 10 months in barrel. It was bottled without filtration in August 2020. Only 4 barrels were produced.
Marsanne is a great grape that makes wines that are remarkably long lived. When young it exhibits aromas of wet stone, under ripe peaches with a hint of honey. As it ages, it takes on more of a honey nut character, with mineral and lanolin undertones. I recommend either drinking it in the first couple years after release for its freshness, or waiting at least 10 years to enjoy all the complexity that this wine can offer. And if you have good cellar conditions, you can easily put this wine away for 20 years…know anybody who has a child born in 2019?
Bob Lindquist
January 2021
*92 points 'Editors' Choice' Wine Enthusiast
*90 points JEB Dunnuck
