Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 2016

“A benchmark, of course, here from 2014. Matured gracefully. Tart and tangy acidity is a strong feature, so too the soft, mellow like texture around it. Lemon balm and curd, green apple, grapefruit pulp and a general sense of talc-chalk minerally character. Moreish and mouth-watering here, fresh yet in an early stage of maturity. So delicious. 94 Points” Mike Bennie.  www.winefront.com.au

"Stylistically akin to the best Hunter Semillon, this Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 2016 is a fascinating piece.  Sourced from a patch of Marsanne vines that dates back to 1927 (who knew!) it’s even built in a Hunter Semillon mode – early picked fruit, cool fermentation, released with some bottle age. The Tahbilk soil types are sandy loams too – it’s all meant to be.

At six years old, this is just entering its peak drinking window. Waxy, lanolin edged palate combines understated, gently honey edges, with pithy, grapefruit and apple through the middle, the finish lightly toasty and gently powerful. That last part is important – it’s much firmer, deeper and more powerful than you realise, almost chewy. That whisper of Marsanne honeysuckle is the counterpoint to the acidity too. It all adds up to pleasure and charisma that will be delivered for decades. I’m a big fan.

Best drinking: honestly I’d wait until early next year and then drink over the next ten years plus. 18.5/20, 94/100. 11%, $46.30. Tahbilk website. Would I buy it? Yes. A bargain given the easy cellarability."  Andrew Graham.  Oz Wine Review

“Light yellow colour, with a herbal, wet cement, straw-like, dried lemon-peel bouquet that is youthful for its years and yet to develop much toastiness. A hint of fresh quince. The palate is delicate, refined and intense, tightly wound and yet smooth and soft, with balanced acidity and lovely flavour, not austere as these wines can be but possessing plenty of drinkability. In typical form, it’s very like a middle-aged Hunter Semillon in the traditional early-picked style.” Huon Hooke. The Real Review