Tahbilk Estate Marsanne 2025 is one of Australia's most distinctive white wines — produced from estate vines established in 1927, among the oldest Marsanne plantings in the world, and awarded 95 points by Jeni Port in Halliday's Wine Companion. Unoaked, estate-grown, and built for both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring, this is Nagambie Lakes Marsanne at its most expressive: honeysuckle, white flowers, citrus, and green almond on the nose; a bright, lively palate of citrus, tropical fruit, and ripe pear with racy lemony acidity and a long, crunchy fresh finish. Drink now with shellfish, or cellar to 2040 and beyond for the full honeysuckle and citrus marmalade complexity that aged Tahbilk Marsanne is famous for.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Pale straw with brilliant clarity and greenish hues — the hallmark of a young, unoaked Marsanne from estate vines with exceptional natural acidity.
Aroma
Lifted and intense — it smells like spring itself. Honeysuckle, white flowers, acacia, green almond, apple, and honeydew melon, with citrus and spice adding further aromatic complexity. So fine, so delicate, with a liveliness of florals that is immediately captivating.
Palate
Bright and lively, with citrus, tropical fruit, and ripe pear notes delivered on a zesty, fresh palate. Racy lemony acidity strikes a lively balance with floral, citrus prettiness. Green apple, light florals, grapefruit pith, and zest run long and true and crunchy fresh. Age will see rich honeysuckle and citrus marmalade characters come to the fore — a transformation that has made Tahbilk Marsanne one of Australia's most celebrated white wines for cellaring.
Pairs With
Young: grilled prawns, steamed fish, fresh oysters, chicken satay, Thai green curry, and light Mediterranean dishes. With age: richer white meat and seafood curries and stews, where the wine's developing body and complexity come into their own.
Wine Sellers Direct Verdict
Tahbilk Estate Marsanne 2025 is one of the most compelling value propositions in the Victorian white wine market — a 95-point wine from 1927 vines at under $16. The case for buying it is simple: drink it now with shellfish and enjoy the citrus and floral freshness of youth, or cellar it for a decade and experience one of Australia's most remarkable white wine transformations. The Purbrick family set aside quantities of each vintage specifically to release as bottle-aged Museum Releases — that is the clearest possible statement of confidence in this wine's longevity. Compared to the Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne, the Estate Marsanne is the more approachable, everyday expression — choose the 1927 Vines for greater concentration and rarity. For those new to Marsanne, this is the ideal entry point to one of Australia's most uniquely Victorian white wine styles.
Best for: White wine lovers seeking something genuinely distinctive and age-worthy at an everyday price.
Style: Unoaked, estate-grown Nagambie Lakes Marsanne with lifted florals, citrus, and racy acidity.
Occasion: Weeknight, seafood dinner, gift, cellar starter.
Who Should Drink This?
This is for the curious wine drinker who wants something genuinely different from mainstream Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc — a white wine with a unique Australian identity, proven ageing credentials, and a 95-point score at under $16. It is equally compelling for those who want to drink it now with seafood and those who want to cellar it for a decade. For anyone building a modest cellar, Tahbilk Estate Marsanne is one of the most reliable and rewarding long-term investments in the Victorian white wine market.
Reviews
“So fine, so delicate and just starting its journey. With a liveliness of florals, it smells like spring itself: honeysuckle, white flowers, acacia, green almond, apple and honeydew melon. Zesty fresh, it strikes a lively balance between racy, lemony acidity and a floral, citrus prettiness. Green apple, light florals, grapefruit pith and zest run long and true and crunchy fresh. Looking good for a bright future, should you be thinking of it. Or, open with shellfish now and enjoy.”
95 Points — Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion, 28 October 2025
Winemaking Notes
Tahbilk's history with Marsanne traces to the 1860s, when White Hermitage cuttings were sourced from St Huberts in Victoria's Yarra Valley. Those original plantings have not survived, but the estate produces Marsanne from vines established in 1927 — among the oldest in the world. Tahbilk holds one of the largest single holdings of Marsanne globally. The wine is unoaked, with winemaking focused entirely on preserving the variety's characteristic citrus, floral, and mineral expression. The Purbrick family set aside small quantities of each vintage to release as bottle-aged Museum Releases — a practice that reflects the proven ageing ability of Tahbilk Marsanne. 12% ABV. Screwcap.
Vintage Conditions
Good November rainfall initially suggested a wet 2025 season, but summer proved very dry with little rainfall through to early autumn — no rain delays in the winery. Harvest ran continuously for approximately eight weeks. Ripening was orderly: early whites and Pinot Noir for sparkling base first, then whites, rosés, and finally reds. Yields were above average without compromising quality. The whites showed expressive varietal character with excellent natural acidity — ideal conditions for Marsanne of this quality and precision.
What's Similar?
Within the Tahbilk range, the Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne is the premium expression — greater concentration, rarity, and cellaring ambition from the same historic vines. For a comparable unoaked Victorian white at a similar price, Tahbilk Estate Chardonnay 2025 offers a more familiar variety with the same estate provenance. For those who want to experience aged Marsanne now, the Tahbilk Museum Release Marsanne offers the honeysuckle and citrus marmalade complexity that develops with bottle age — without the wait.
