Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne

d’Arenberg Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne, a white blend from this great winery.

Many of McLaren Vale’s vineyards are on free-draining soils underlain with limestone, formed by the calcareous remains of the local marine fauna. One such creature was the Hermit Crab, a reclusive little crustacean that inhabits the cast-off shells of others. The Osborn family thought the name appropriate for this, McLaren Vale’s first ever blend of Viognier and Marsanne. “Hermit” is also an abbreviation for the French appellation of Hermitage, where the Marsanne grape variety dominates.

Wonderfully aromatic and covers a broad spectrum of characters from white stone fruits and citrus through to ginger, spice and raw nuts. The palate is equally as giving with good fruit generosity, well etched, crisp acidity and a super fine grapefruit pith like phenolic tail. The overall combination of these features deliver a fruit driven wine that tails off to a long, savoury and mouth-watering finish. 

d’Arenberg Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne is a versatile wine that can be equally enjoyed on its own, aperitif style, or with a wide range of spicy foods, white meat and seafood focused dishes.

This is a wine that really does offer something for a large array of individuals, from someone purely interested in a nice drink to those seeking to explore the nuances of these “alternate” varieties. The Viognier certainly takes centre stage on the nose in the guise of stone fruits, candied ginger and florals. In the background for those keen on honing their senses, Marsanne adds slightly more exotic notes of green mango, hay and almond. The palate has a lovely medium bodied weight to it, without any of that oiliness that over ripe Viognier can deliver. Precise acid throughout and a mild pithy texture on the finish ensure freshness and spice to keep the sweetness of the fruit in check. Fruity and spicy yet dry make this an all occasions wine.

To see our full range of d’Arenberg product go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/darenberg/

For more information on the winery go to https://www.darenberg.com.au/