Marsannay wine: red, white and rosé from the northern Côte de Nuits
Marsannay wine comes from the northernmost village appellation of the Côte de Nuits, just south of Dijon and north of Fixin and Gevrey-Chambertin. Growers here make red wine from Pinot Noir, white wine from Chardonnay and, unusually, rosé too, all under the same name. That makes Marsannay one of the most versatile appellations in all of Burgundy.
The appellation was created in 1987, which makes it one of the youngest village appellations in the region. It covers vineyards in three communes: Chenôve, Marsannay-la-Côte and Couchey. Red wine accounts for most of the area, and the rest is split roughly evenly between rosé and white.
Terroir and style of Marsannay wine
The vines grow on gentle slopes between about 225 and 390 metres above sea level. Soils alternate between limestone, Jurassic marl and brown, stony earth, and the highest plots, with thin, well drained soil, give the most structured wines. The climate is cool with a continental edge, so the grapes ripen late.
Red Marsannay has a deep colour, aromas of red and dark berries that turn towards dried fruit with age, a firm attack and good length. The white is round and generous, with citrus, white flowers and a hint of exotic fruit. It is made from Chardonnay, sometimes with a little Pinot Blanc.
Marsannay rosé, a rarity in Burgundy
Marsannay is the only village appellation in the Côte d'Or where rosé may be sold under the village's own name. The tradition is usually credited to Joseph Clair of Domaine Clair-Daü, who started making rosé from Pinot Noir after the First World War. His grandson Bruno Clair now makes, among other wines, a white Marsannay from La Charme aux Prêtres.
Rosé from Marsannay is pale with a faint orange tint and smells of white peach and flowers. Try Domaine Joseph Roty's Marsannay Rosé or Sylvain Pataille's Fleur de Pinot, and find more styles in our rosé wine range.
Clos du Roy, Longeroies and the road to premier cru
Marsannay has no official premier cru or grand cru vineyards today. Growers have spent years working to have several of their best sites upgraded, and the application with INAO, the French appellation authority, includes Le Clos du Roy, Les Longeroies, Au Champ Salomon, Champs Perdrix and La Charme aux Prêtres among others. Until a final decision is made, these names appear on the label as a lieu-dit under the village appellation.
The same names turn up across many producers. Sylvain Pataille makes Clos du Roy, Le Chapitre and En Clemengeots, Jean Fournier makes Le Chapitre, Les Longeroies, Saint Urbain and Trois Terres, and Domaine Bart is behind Au Champ Salomon and Clos du Roy. From Gevrey-Chambertin come the Les Longeroies bottlings of Domaine Denis Mortet and Geantet-Pansiot, while Domaine Lecheneaut with Les Sampagny and René Bouvier with En Ouzeloy round out the selection.
Marsannay with food
Red Marsannay suits red meat such as roast beef and lamb, freshwater fish such as pike and zander, and cow's milk cheeses. Serve it at 15 to 17 degrees. The white works with poultry in cream sauce, veal blanquette, fish and goat's cheese, while the rosé is a natural match for salads, grilled food, charcuterie and spicy dishes.
Marsannay FAQ
Which grapes are used in Marsannay?
Red and rosé are made from Pinot Noir, while the white is made from Chardonnay, sometimes with a little Pinot Blanc.
Is there a Marsannay premier cru?
Not yet. The appellation has no classified premier cru vineyards, but an application to upgrade several sites, including Clos du Roy and Les Longeroies, is under review at INAO.
How long does Marsannay age?
In the best vintages the red can develop for ten to fifteen years, the white usually peaks after eight to ten years, and the rosé is best drunk within a couple of years.
Where is Marsannay?
Marsannay lies at the northern tip of the Côte de Nuits, just south of Dijon and north of Fixin and Gevrey-Chambertin.