Consistently one of Australia's most popular white wines and always at a competitive price, the marsanne from the historic Tahbilk winery in central Victoria's Nagambie Lakes Region comes from plantings dating back to 1927. Indeed, Tahbilk claims to hold the largest, single holding of this, one of the world's rarest grape varieties.The Marsanne grape arrived in Australia in the 1830's, was introduced into Victoria in the 1860's and now accounts for just over three quarters of its growth in the world. Without wanting to ruffle French feathers, it appears that this northern Rhone Valley varietal has found a more 'bountiful' home here in Australia.
In its native Hermitage AOC, Marsanne is the most widely planted white wine grape and is often blended with Roussanne. It forms the majority share in the white wines of the Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph's AOCs. Marsanne is also one of the eight grape varieties allowed in the Cotes de Rhone appellation. In Australia, it is also blended with the other of the northern Rhone white grape trifecta Viognier, to produce some really intriguing and award-winning blends.
Pale straw yellow in colour, this 2009 example is best served with roast chicken. More aged Marsanne can cope with heavier white meat dishes or even cheeses. It is indeed a versatile, food friendly white varietal that can and does stand the test of what father time throws at it.
A lemon, green apple nose is followed by a palate packing sweet spice, minerality and a dry, zingy acidity. Hints of pear and peach emerge with the familiar honeysuckle notes. Clean, fresh fruit flavours linger on the long finish.
This lovely, well-balanced, medium-bodied wine can be drunk now but could easily be put away for a decade to experience the golden hues and honeyed, nutty, dry fruit complexity associated with an aged Marsanne.
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