Tahbilk Marsanne 2019 Magnum 1.5L (Australia)

Description

Dry, Floral, Honey

From a highly regarded vintage for our Estate Marsanne this 2019 release is intense and lifted with bright jasmine and lemon scents on a juicy palate of tropical and citrus fruits underscored by a taut minerality. Cellaring over eight to ten years will see classic aged Marsanne rich and toasty, marmalade and honeyed characters develop. Enjoy now to 2027/2029.

Established in 1860, and purchased by the Purbrick family in 1925, Tahbilk is located in the premium central Victorian viticultural region of Nagambie Lakes.

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.

2019 was the hottest summer on record, exacerbated by a dry winter and early spring. November and December were then tropical in comparison – higher temperatures and 50% more rainfall than the long-term average. This weather pattern saw terrific canopy growth, with the frequent rains turning the vineyards a vivid green. The predictions of a warm and drier than normal summer, eventuated after Christmas The January average of 35 was 5 degrees hotter than ‘normal’ with February temperatures just a fraction above average. The heat was relentless, and there was no useful rainfall for the month so it remained very dry. Despite this the fruit didn’t ripen as rapidly as anticipated, and we started vintage relatively late on February 19th. Ripening continued to be steady even though the hot days and warm nights continued, which allowed us to bring in fruit at optimum ripeness and without a rush. And the end result? Yields for Whites were down on expectations, but quality was good. The Reds fared better yield wise, and have bright fresh fruit, depth of flavour, and rich, full palates.