Chateau Tahbilk Marsanne 2014

I was first introduced to the wines of Chateau Tahbilk by Australian friends in London, way back in the 1970's. We used to go to the "Cork and Bottle" wine bar on Leicester Square. The wine bar is still going strong and the balance of clientele, service, food and atmosphere is superb. The range and quality of the wines would be difficult beat; even the house wines are great. The wine bar is certainly worth visiting when you are in London. There are two entrances.

http://www.thecorkandbottle.co.uk/

Most of our Australian friends are from Victoria state and this is why they are so proud of Chateau Tahbilk wines. Tahbilk makes some of the finest wines that Victoria and Australia have to offer and their wines can easily compete with top wines from France, Italy, Spain and California.

Their Marsanne 2014 is no exception. I rarely agree with the description on the bottle or the website but this time I could not agree more. It genuinely has a taste of tropical fruits and minerals. It is a complex and concentrated wine with long length on the palate.

This wine is not for slugging back in a bar or at a barbecue but it should be savoured over a home cooked meal or at a restaurant with good food.

We drank ours with pasta and with some friends.  Before tasting the wine make sure it is served slightly chilled. Drink the wine from a reasonably sized tulip glass and give the wine a good swirl before smelling and tasting. To obtain the full flavour wash the wine around your mouth - lips closed of course.

http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

http://www.tahbilk.com.au/buy-tahbilk-wine-online/tahbilk-2014-marsanne.html

I can forgive Tahbilk for the varietal labelling as the wine is so good. There is a hefty duty on non-EU wines, in the UK and other EU countries, but the wine still stays competitive price wise.  I recommend it highly and if  you can find it then give it a try. I bought my bottle in "The Planet of The Grapes" in Bow Lane.

You can also find it here for about £10 a bottle if you buy half a case.

https://www.armitwines.co.uk/australia/victoria/tahbilk/
  

There is no prize for guessing where the Marsanne grape originated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsanne