Named after his great grandfather, Michael Chapoutier offers “Marius” as an introduction to French wines. That is wines that are true to their Southern France origins, and are priced within everyone’s budget. So while most of us associate Vermentino with Italian wines, it is widely planted in Provence, the southern Rhône Valley, and the Languedoc. For “Marius,” the winery combines Vermentino with a dollop of Terret. Each is separately vinified, and then the blend is aged sur lies for 5 months. The wine is a pale straw color with a green tinge and its youthful aroma displays lime, stone fruit and floral notes. Medium bodied with a smooth, inviting texture, it had lots of citrus flavors with some minerality mixed in. Pleasant, dry finish. Hard to beat for the price!
Marius by Michel Chapoutier, Pays d’Oc IGP (Languedoc, France) Vermentino 2021
By Norm Roby