Description

PRODUCER:
Established in 1860, Tahbilk is an historic family-owned winery, renowned for its rare aged Marsanne. The estate has the world’s largest single holding of the varietal and produces Marsanne from vines established in 1927, which are among the oldest in the world. Tahbilk is known as ‘tabilk tabilk’ in the language of the Daungwurrung clans, which translates as the ‘place of many waterholes’. It perfectly describes this premium viticultural landscape, which is located in the Nagambie Lakes region of Central Victoria. The estate comprises 1,214 hectares, including a seven mile frontage to the Goulburn River. Environmental sustainability is paramount at Tahbilk and in 2013 they became carbon neutral. In 2016, Tahbilk was awarded ‘Winery of the Year’ by James Halliday.

VINEYARD:
Tahbilk’s vineyards are grouped along the banks of the Goulburn River and an anabranch of it which flows through the estate. The water has a tempering influence on the climate. The vines are grown at approximately 134 metres above sea level on gently undulating and flat terrain. The soils are sandy loam with ferric oxide content, which varies from very fine sand near the anabranch to denser loams on the plains. The origin of the older block vines is unknown, but ampelography inspection suggests a mixture of varieties. The blocks planted before 1986 are on ARG rootstocks and are in very good health. The spur and cane-pruned vines are spaced at 2.1 x 3 metres and are trained according to a mixture of head and cordon methods. This wine is named after the practice of cutting the canes, where the fruiting cane is detached from the vine. The bunches of grapes are left to hang prior to harvest, drying the fruit, which concentrates the flavours and sugars, resulting in a luscious wine.

WINEMAKING:
The hand-picked grapes were handled reductively. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures with selected neutral and aromatic yeasts and lasted 10 days. Fermentation was arrested by chilling to 2°C at approximately 120 grams of residual sugar, resulting in this lusciously sweet wine. Bottled early to preserve the purity of the fruit.

VINTAGE:
The 2018 growing season was dry and warm, providing almost perfect conditions. The vintage started on the 8th February and progressed very smoothly; yields and maturity were ideal. It remained warm throughout harvesting, and the whites have clear varietal definition and crisp fruit flavours.

TASTING NOTE:
Citrus and tropical fruit characters are complemented by lush marmalade, nutty and honeysuckle notes on a richly opulent palate, refreshed by a mineral-like acidity.

GRAPES:
Marsanne 96%, Viognier 4%.