From: Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia
Varietal: Marsanne
Tasting Notes and Critical Acclaim: This lovely Marsanne hits far above its price point and has gained more weight and personality with age. It still carries a ton of freshness and citrus elements, but the apple and pear notes have evolved to show off spice, white rose, and a hint of honeysuckle. You’ll fall for this wine if you love white wines from Rhône varietals, if you’re a fan of “not oaky” Chardonnay, or if you dig versatile Italian wines from Sardegna, the Marche, or Campania.
Pairing: This gorgeous (and frankly, outrageously priced) Marsanne has the depth and weight to pair with dishes that skew toward rich or more robust flavors. Some examples include pairing this with marsala chicken meatballs, chicken au poivre (check it out below), spiced chicken and vegetable sauté, slow-cooker jalapeno pulled pork (as carnitas, with rice, or as sandwiches), coconut chicken curry, grouper fillets with ginger and coconut curry, katsu curry, and pineapple curry. Vegetarian dishes like a cheesy green Chile bean bake, garlicky Alfredo beans, roasted vegetable burritos, sheet-pan baked feta with broccolini, tomatoes, and lemon, and creamed kale pizza are other comfort-filled dishes that’ll be natural partners for this versatile, friendly white wine.
Chicken au Poivre
By Kay Chun
About. Established in 1860, Tahbilk is the oldest family-owned winery and vineyard in Victoria, Australia. Tahbilk captures the hearts and minds of visitors to Nagambie as a beautiful and historic winery whose timeless appearance opens the imagination. Home to some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world; half a hectare of un- grafted, pre-phylloxera original Estate planting known as the 1860 Vines. Tahbilk's flagship white wine is Marsanne; a rare single holding of the varietal produces a unique wine that is intended to cellar for 30-50 years. The winery and vineyard continue to be carbon neutral and produce a range of wines made with minimal touch and maximum flavour.
As it relates to this wine... The Tahbilk vineyards have included Marsanne vines since they were first established in 1860. In fact, the current vines were planted in 1927, after the Phylloxera outbreak. They are some of the oldest Marsanne vines in the World. The 2020 vintage is still young with rich honeydew melon on the palate along with the more traditional lemon and lime. It’s light and approachable as a young wine, but we recommend you put it down for another 3 years if you can wait. Tahbilk Marsanne ages incredibly well and the honeydew will mature into something more rich - marmalade, honeysuckle, and roasted cashews.