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2016 Tahbilk Marsanne
Nagambie Lakes, Victoria,
AUSTRALIA
$16. 99
Bottle
$203.88 Dozen
Minimum 12 bottles
Cellar: 6 - 8 Years (2023-2025)
ABV: 13%
Closure: Stelvin
Brilliant very pale straw colour with a faint tinge of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of fresh pear, lemon and light honeysuckle emerge from the glass followed by faint quince end notes. Light and fresh with a rounded textural feel the palate has flavours of citrus, lime, apples and light honeysuckle over delicate infusions of mineral. Finishes dry with lively acidity and an aftertaste of lime, citrus, apples, honeysuckle and subtle mineral.
Drink now or cellar 6-8 years.
Alc 13% Other reviews... A Victorian classic with aromas of quince, citrus, florals and a mineral touch. It’s very fresh and soft, yet very dry. Its structure and heritage suggest some ageing potential. Food Idea: Pan-fried trout with lemon, butter and parsley. - Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure Notes from the winery... Vintage 2016 started dry with only two thirds of the average rainfall for winter recorded, followed by half the usual for September and budburst and then none measurable at all in October. The vineyard managers were watering two weeks before budburst and through to January when a massive thunderstorm dumped 86 mm of rain in just two hours with some parts of the Old Tahbilk vineyards also hit by hail storm damage. Fortunately cool windy days followed with no mould or other diseases evident. The harvest itself was 'compressed' with many of the red blocks going through veraison at the same time as the whites, leading to the same amount of grapes being taken in but in a shorter period of time. Despite the early and quick vintage, the flavours were good with crisp and delicate whites and most reds picked at optimum ripeness showing juicy and bright fruit. Overall a good to very good vintage in terms of quality and quantity. One of the world’s rarest grape varieties, with its origins in the Northern Rhone and Hermitage regions of France, Tahbilk’s history with Marsanne can be traced back to the 1860’s when White Hermitage cuttings were sourced from ‘St Huberts’ Vineyard in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. The grape in fact was Marsanne and although none of these original plantings have survived, the Estate has the world’s largest single holding of the varietal and produces Marsanne from vines established in 1927, which are amongst the oldest in the world.
Drink now or cellar 6-8 years.
Alc 13% Other reviews... A Victorian classic with aromas of quince, citrus, florals and a mineral touch. It’s very fresh and soft, yet very dry. Its structure and heritage suggest some ageing potential. Food Idea: Pan-fried trout with lemon, butter and parsley. - Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure Notes from the winery... Vintage 2016 started dry with only two thirds of the average rainfall for winter recorded, followed by half the usual for September and budburst and then none measurable at all in October. The vineyard managers were watering two weeks before budburst and through to January when a massive thunderstorm dumped 86 mm of rain in just two hours with some parts of the Old Tahbilk vineyards also hit by hail storm damage. Fortunately cool windy days followed with no mould or other diseases evident. The harvest itself was 'compressed' with many of the red blocks going through veraison at the same time as the whites, leading to the same amount of grapes being taken in but in a shorter period of time. Despite the early and quick vintage, the flavours were good with crisp and delicate whites and most reds picked at optimum ripeness showing juicy and bright fruit. Overall a good to very good vintage in terms of quality and quantity. One of the world’s rarest grape varieties, with its origins in the Northern Rhone and Hermitage regions of France, Tahbilk’s history with Marsanne can be traced back to the 1860’s when White Hermitage cuttings were sourced from ‘St Huberts’ Vineyard in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. The grape in fact was Marsanne and although none of these original plantings have survived, the Estate has the world’s largest single holding of the varietal and produces Marsanne from vines established in 1927, which are amongst the oldest in the world.