2023 Logan Lab Marsanne

LOGAN LAB

Logan Labis winemaker Peter Logan’s quirky new addition to the Logan family of wines. This once yearly, limited release collection from the NSW Central Ranges region celebrates the pinnacle of Pete’s experimental trials with different grape varietals, winemaking techniques and styles. Logan Lab launches with a 2022 Petit Verdot (Mudgee), a French Alsatian style 2023 Pinot Gris (Orange) and a barrel fermented 2023 Marsanne (Orange).

His penchant for experimentation will come as no surprise to those who know Pete. A former process chemist, he majored in biology and chemistry at university and was firmly ensconced in the pharmaceutical world before finding his true calling in the vineyard. Pete is renowned for confidently deviating from the usual winemaker script – a tradition he both continues and celebrates with the launch of Logan Lab.

“With Logan Lab I wanted to capture and share the very finest results from our small batch experiments. We are a curious bunch of winemakers here at Logan. Each year we play around with a different winemaking technique, a new variety sourced from a neighbour or a different balance or blend in the end wine. In the past these small experiments were blended away and inevitably lost in a much larger batch. This process was always met with more than a tinge of regret that nobody got to experience the joy and intrigue from the successful trials. Now the highlights have a home in Logan Lab,” explains Pete. 

Logan Lab presents the culmination of Pete and his winemaking teams’ most successful and intriguing trials. Crafted in small batches, fermented on wild yeast and produced in extremely limited quantities, these wines are available exclusively from Logan online and from the Logan cellar doors in Orange and Mudgee. A very small allocation will be extended to select restaurant partners. Every sip tells a tale of exploration and excellence.

MARSANNE

Whilst Logan Lab is Pete’s baby, his extended winemaking team is involved in the experimentation process and creation of these unique wines. One of Logan’s winemakers, Lisa Ioannitis, hails from France and developed an affinity with Marsanne while working in the Rhone, where this variety is more often than not blended with the very aromatic variety Rousanne. Lisa chose to keep the 2023 Logan Lab Marsanne as a straight single varietal and ferment it in old oak to emphasise it’s luxurious, silky texture and nutty flavours, which complement the lemon, peach and honeysuckle characters the variety is known for.

AWARDS

The Logan Lab Marsanne 2023 has recently been awarded 93 points by Halliday Wine Companion.