Marrimee
Pronounced Marrim-ee

Long known for our operation in Dunsborough, we have been developing a new vineyard in Karridale since 1994.

Marri Trees. Home base for our ducks

This estate that we call Three Hills has three hills crowned with magnificent stands of fully mature, very tall, 300 year old Marri.   

In the south west of Western Australia the dominance of Marri has long been recognised as an indicator of the deep, well-drained soils needed to sustain vines over the summer. As a bonus the Marri also filters and calms the vigorous southerly breezes for the good of the vines and furthermore, provides a prolific display of white blossom in March to feed the silver-eyes who might otherwise destroy the crop.

Marrimee is a blend, a marrying if you wish, of a number of grape varieties.  The candidates are Semillon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Viognier, Marsanne, Furmint, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc. The intention at the beginning was to adjust this blend from year to year to construct a wine that reflects the best possibilities of a uniquely favourable vineyard environment. In practice, the lions share is done by Semillon and Chardonnay brings up the rear.  After five vintages, I believe that our Semillon is a great grape and we will be able to make some fantastic wines from it. 

Marrimee is also a marriage of grape and yeast flavour and the special magic that emerges when grape juice is fermented in wooden containers.

We set out to make the Marrimee an absolutely dry wine.  Chasing ripe fruit characters we have alcohols in excess of 14% and this delivers some sweetness.  Excellent strength of fruit flavour in the Semillon delivers a wine with pronounced drinkability, especially after a couple of years in the bottle.  In my experience the great dry wines always taste sweet, the length of grape flavour is there to put flesh on the acids and tannins that are sometimes described as the 'structure' of the wine. I like to see some flesh on the bone.

Great wine comes from great vineyards. Climate, soil and human endeavour are the ingredients of great vineyards and of these three the first is the great facilitator.

Because of the amount of Semillon we produce (and the unfamiliar name) we have set ourselves a marketing task with this wine.  However, it is currently sold at a very accessible price and volume is growing all the time.