SUMMER 2010 NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the 2010 Summer release newsletter which includes the Vinea Marson 2010 Rosé
and 2010 Viognier.
In the last six months our vineyard has undergone an amazing transformation due to the winter
and spring rain and the vines are thriving. The dam, almost empty for a decade, is now brimming with water and the
constant croaking of the frogs is a welcome sound at night. This augurs well for an excellent 2011 vintage,
after years of prolonged drought.
The newly released 2010 Rosé and 2010 Viognier are delicious wines which will complement a range
of summer foods. 2009 was the premier release of the Vinea Marson Viognier and we were thrilled with its
success. The 2010 Viognier is equally as impressive.
The Vinea Marson Rosé continues to meet the high standards of previous vintages including the 2008 Rosé,
which was awarded Best Rosé in Nick Stock’s 2010 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide. As in other
years, the 2010 Vinea Marson Rosé is made predominantly from Sangiovese grapes with a small percentage
of Nebbiolo. It exhibits a richer colour than previous vintages, a great wine to enjoy over summer.
REVIEWS
In terms of press recognition, 2010 has been a most rewarding year. Our wines have been received
positively and we have included some of the critical comments and ratings from Australia’s
leading wine journalists.
The Australian Wine Annual 2011 – Jeremy Oliver
The Top 10 Shiraz and Blends –
No. 10 Vinea Marson 2008 Syrah - 95 points
The Top 10 from New Varieties –
No. 3 Vinea Marson 2009 Viognier – 95 points
Ten Future Classics - Vinea Marson Syrah:
“…a very stylish modern Rhone-inspired Shiraz of genuine finesse,
elegance and complexity … very close to state of the art”
The Age/Sydney Morning Herald Good Wine Guide 2011 – Nick Stock
Best Italian Varietal – Vinea Marson 2008 Sangiovese:
“Mario Marson’s pursuit of Italian grapes in Victoria’s red Heathcote
dirt is starting to pay handsome dividends. This staggeringly juicy wine
demonstrates authenticity towards both grape variety and region.”
Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show – Mildura, November 2010
Bronze Medal – Vinea Marson Viognier (2010) (1 Silver and 3 Bronze medals awarded)
Bronze Medal – Vinea Marson Rose (2010) (I Silver and 5 Bronze medals awarded)
Bronze Medal – Vinea Marson Sangiovese (2008) (Only Bronze medals awarded)
The Vinea Marson 2008 Syrah 2008 and 2008 Sangiovese are also available for purchase
as listed on the order form.
Best wishes for the holiday season and we hope you enjoy our new release wines.
Mario and Helen Marson
WINTER 2010 NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the winter release of our 2008 Vinea Marson Syrah and Sangiovese. We had envisaged an
autumn release of our red wines but due to a family bereavement this has been delayed.
The Vagaries of Weather – Vintage 2008
In February 2008, the vintage promised to be an excellent one. The weather in December, January and early
February was quite mild and provided optimum conditions for veraison and ripening. However, the onset of
a period of extreme heat in late February caused the grapes to ripen rapidly. In a normal harvest, the Shiraz
and Viognier are harvested first, followed by the Sangiovese and finally the Nebbiolo. In 2008, all the grape
varieties matured at the same time. Usually the vintage extends over a four to six week period from early
March until mid April. As a result, the 2008 harvest was condensed into a 16 day period. A sleepless and
stressful time for all!
Much of south-eastern Australia experienced a heat wave, placing pressure on wineries to cope with
the rapid influx of grapes. Fortunately at Vinea Marson, the winery infrastructure facilitated the orderly
processing and fermentation of the grapes at their optimum ripeness. We are very pleased with the quality
of the wines crafted. The Syrah and Sangiovese wines display great balance and complexity without being
overly ripe.
Our Italian Assistant
Vintage 2008 was enlivened by the presence of an enthusiastic young Italian winemaker Domenico
Mazzotta, an oenology graduate from the University of Parma, who had completed vintages in the Veneto
region of north-eastern Italy and in the Napa Valley in California.
Domenico literally hit the ground running as he arrived in Melbourne on a Friday in early March and by
Saturday was completely ensconced in the vintage. There was no time for Domenico to settle gently into
his new surroundings. A cure for jetlag is five consecutive days of crushing at a winery in the southern
hemisphere! Domenico’s assistance was invaluable.
30th Anniversary
This year is Mario’s thirtieth vintage in the Australian wine industry. Our industry places increasing emphasis
on youth, where the cult of the ‘rising star’ often overlooks experience, knowledge and longevity. Mario’s
many years of experience as a viticulturalist and winemaker enable him to craft fine elegant wines. Excellent
reviews of these wines by reputable wine journalists attest to this.
As a young graduate in 1981, Mario’s first vintage was at St. Hubert’s Coldstream. Within two years he was
employed at Mount Mary Vineyard where he completed fifteen vintages. This experience was invaluable in
forming his understanding of the structure of the European style wines produced at Mount Mary. Five years
at Jasper Hill acclimatised Mario to the growing conditions in central Victoria and provided him with the principles
involved in the production of Shiraz. Vintage work in Burgundy and in Italy has also been intrinsic in shaping
him as a winemaker.
China 2010
The reception of Australian wines at the recent Shanghai Expo reflects China’s growing importance as an
export market. For the last two years, Vinea Marson has exported its wines to Beijing and Mario has also
been contracted to produce a separate Heathcote Shiraz for this market. On a visit to Beijing in June 2010
, he observed the increasing popularity of Australian wine for the Chinese wine consumer. The growing profile
of Vinea Marson in China illustrates that it is not only wines from the cheaper end of the market which are in
demand.
New Release Wines
The winter release includes two of our red wines, the 2008 Syrah and 2008 Sangiovese. The 2008 Nebbiolo is
being aged for an extra twelve months in a 1600 litre Botte. This wine will be available at this time next year.
We hope you enjoy these wines
Mario and Helen Marson.