• Sylvain Pataille
  • Marsannay Chardonnay Rose

    At a Glance

    • Variety: Chardonnay Rose
    • Vine Age: Oldest planted in 1949, propagation in 2009, 2013-14
    • Terroir: Originally Les Blangeys, now multiple Marsannay parcels
    • Viticulture: Certified organic, biodynamic methods
    • Vinification: Indigenous yeast alcoholic fermentation. Aged for 15 months in 3 to 4-year-old barrels, minimal sulfur added only at bottling.

    Additional Info

    Chardonnay Rose is a genetic mutation of the Chardonnay grape specific to the village of Marsannay. Sylvain Pataille first noticed the mutation in 2002, when he acquired his Blangeys parcel, and found some surprisingly pink grapes at harvest. From 2002 until 2005, his Marsannay Blanc was 100% Chardonnay Rose from Blangeys, then he began to blend in Chardonnay from other parcels to complete the cuvée.

    But Sylvain wasn't content with mixing this unique grape variety with traditional Chardonnay. He continued his research from there, finally using his vines from Les Blangeys to propagate the variety, planting at high density (20,000 vines per hectare) in 2009 and then in 2013 and 2014.

    2014 is the first vintage for this cuvée, but as Sylvain's young massal selection vines come of age for wine production, we're hoping to see more than the current 2 barrels produced in the future.