A compelling skin-contact Marsanne, marrying bitter orange and candied fruit with walnut, almond and exotic spice, framed by fine tannins and a long, savoury finish.

🍷 Tasting notes

Appearance: Deep amber-gold with pronounced orange and copper reflections—immediately signalling the extended skin contact.

Nose: Complex and unconventional. Initially candied and macerated fruit, bitter orange and dried fruit, followed by walnut, almond and warm spice. With air, more unusual nuances appear: curry, liquorice, balsamic herbs, fresh wood, cappuccino, vanilla and orris root.

Palate: Dry and structured, with considerably more grip than a conventional Marsanne. There is a rich core of candied citrus and dried fruit, but the wine retains enough energy and tension to avoid becoming heavy.

The month-long maceration contributes a noticeable tannic/phenolic texture. Walnut, almond, liquorice and spice develop through the mid-palate, while the élevage in demi-muid adds subtle woody and savoury complexity.

Finish: Long, dry and distinctly gastronomic, with dried nuts, bitter orange, almond and fine bitters. That controlled bitterness is an important part of the wine rather than a defect—it gives Les Amazones its persistence and makes it particularly food-friendly.

Style: ★★★★★ Character | ★★★★☆ Structure | ★★★★☆ Complexity | ★★★☆☆ Freshness | ★★★★☆ Gastronomic potential

🍽️ Food pairing

For food, this has excellent potential with roast poultry, duck, grilled fish, mildly spicy fish preparations, North African cuisine, curry, tajine with dried apricots or almonds, mushrooms and mature hard cheeses. The combination of tannin and fine bitterness means it can handle dishes that would overwhelm a conventional white wine.

There is some variation in serving recommendations: serve it around 12–13°C. Too cold and much of the aromatic complexity and texture disappears.

I would also recommend opening it 30–60 minutes beforehand, or even giving it a short decant. The oxidative/nutty and spicy dimensions become considerably more interesting with air.

🧭 Technical data

• Region: Northern Rhône, France
• Vintage: 2022
• Classification: Vin de France
• Style: Orange / skin-contact white wine
• Grape: 100% Marsanne
• Bottle: 50 cl
• Terroir: cool clay-limestone soils around Mercurol
• Viticulture: certified organic
• Harvest: manual, at the end of August
• Vinification: grapes destemmed, followed by approximately one month of skin maceration in tank
• Ageing: 12 months in demi-muids, followed by 6 months in tank
• Additives: described as without additives
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Drinking window: approximately 2025–2029