Desirade by Francois Pienaar 2015
Desirade by Francois Pienaar 2015
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Marianne — Desirade by Francois Pienaar 2015
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Nestled in the impressive landscape at the foot of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch, the Marianne Wine Estate combines French winemaking tradition with South African terroir. The location between Stellenbosch and Paarl offers ideal climatic conditions and forms the basis for characterful, structured wines.
The winery's roots lie in Bordeaux: the owning family acquired Marianne in 2004 with the clear vision of uniting the elegance and precision of the Old World with the fruit and energy of the New World.
As a boutique winery of around 32 hectares, Marianne consistently prioritizes quality over quantity. At the heart are wines with depth, structure and a clear signature, grown in the vineyard and carefully nurtured in the cellar.
The name 'Marianne' symbolizes French identity and values — and it is precisely this combination of origin, character and modern interpretation that shapes the style of the wines.
Tasting notes
In the glass a deep ruby red with subtly evolved reflections. On the nose it shows a complex aroma of dark berries such as Blackberry and blackcurrant, complemented by notes of dried fruit, cedarwood and a hint of tobacco. The long aging in French oak barrels brings additional depth as well as fine hints of vanilla and spice. On the palate full-bodied and harmonious with an elegant structure. The high proportion of Merlot provides a soft, rounded texture, while the Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine backbone and length. The tannins are well integrated and carry the dark fruit as well as the spicy notes into the mid-palate. The finish is long, supple and multilayered with lingering notes of dark fruit, wood and delicate spice.
Grape Variety
Chenin Blanc is a widely cultivated, old white wine grape variety that has been grown in France (in Anjou – Touraine) since the 9th century. Compared to other white wine grape varieties, this variety is very productive. This leads to a very high quality of the white wine when reduced on the vine.
In South Africa, Chenin Blanc is the most widely grown white wine grape variety. The reason for this is primarily the very high diversity. For example, there are "wild-growing" vines (so-called Bush Vines) that are usually not irrigated. For this reason, the vines penetrate very deep into the ground with their roots to reach water. These Chenin Blancs therefore have a stronger depth and complexity.
The grape variety can also be aged very fresh and fruity in stainless steel tanks, developing into a very nice summer wine. Through the Aged in oak barrels, one obtains very complex and full-bodied white wines. The aromas of Chenin Blanc wines range from peach, apricot, and tropical fruits to honey and melon.