In the constant quest to adapt to climate disruption, the Bordeaux vineyard—steeped in history and heritage—sometimes turns to innovation. It is within this context that Marselan, a relatively young red grape variety, has made its entrance into the Gironde. Resulting from a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache Noir bred by INRA in 1961 near Marseillan (from which it takes its name), this variety has no historical ties to Bordeaux's traditional encépagement.

Its recent authorisation in 2021 by the syndicats of the AOC Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur, alongside other varieties such as Arinarnoa: A Recent Cross Authorised for Adaptation in Bordeaux or Touriga Nacional: King of the Douro, a Solution for Bordeaux's Future?, marks a resolutely forward-looking approach. These "new" grape varieties are introduced on an experimental basis, with strictly limited proportions (5% of vineyard plantings and 10% of the final blend), with the precise goal of evaluating their capacity to thrive in a hotter and drier climate. As Jean-Baptiste Duquesne highlights in his book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages", viticultural history is punctuated with adaptations, but this one is of a different nature, responding to an unprecedented environmental urgency.

Ampelographic Profile

Characteristic	Description
Budburst	Late, around one week after Merlot.
Flowering	Late.
Veraison	Late, around ten days after Merlot.
Ripening	Late, up to three weeks after Merlot.
Vigour	Medium to high.
Growth habit	Erect.
Susceptibility to downy mildew	Low.
Susceptibility to powdery mildew	Low.
Susceptibility to botrytis	Low, thanks to thick skins and well-aerated bunches.
Susceptibility to black rot	Low.
Aromatic profile	Black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry), spices, garrigue notes.
Winemaking potential	Deeply coloured wines, prominent yet silky tannins, good ageing potential, high aromatic complexity.

A Profile Tailored to Future Challenges

Marselan stands out with promising characteristics to face contemporary challenges. It demonstrates good drought tolerance as well as resistance to certain diseases such as powdery mildew and mite pests. Its late ripening is a significant asset, helping avoid midsummer heatwaves. It is renowned for producing wines of deep colour, well structured, with supple tannins and an appealing aromatic range reminiscent of black fruit and spices. These qualities make it a strong candidate to preserve the typicity of Bordeaux red wines in the context of climate change.

Château Cazebonne and the Heritage Vision of Bordeaux Grape Varieties

At Château Cazebonne, our philosophy is deeply rooted in our local viticultural heritage. Faced with the introduction of new grape varieties like Marselan, our approach is distinct. We focus on rediscovering and rehabilitating historical Bordeaux grape varieties—those "forgotten" cultivars that shaped the identity of our terroirs for centuries before being sidelined in favour of progressive homogenisation. We are convinced that these local genetic treasures, naturally adapted to our ecosystem, offer sustainable solutions and unmatched aromatic richness.

This work of memory and perseverance is what we carry out every day at Château Cazebonne, replanting these lost varieties to revive an unsuspected palette of flavours. This ambitious project is made possible thanks to the invaluable support of the many wine lovers who have embraced our wines and share our passion for rediscovering Bordeaux's viticultural heritage—a fascinating history you can explore further by downloading the digital edition of the book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages". To test your knowledge, take part in our wine quizzes, and to explore the outcome of this approach and taste our cuvées crafted from these revived heritage varieties, we invite you to visit our online shop. As for Balzac: An Ampelographic Enigma Far from Bordeaux or the Tannat grape variety, that is another story!