2021 Tellurian Marsanne, Heathcote

Hand-picked, de-stemmed, pressed, fermentation in old French oak, 9 months maturation in oak. Marsanne, like its sibling white and red Rhone grapes, is naturally attuned to the Heathcote landscape. It gets to showcase its richness and textural qualities here, its honeysuckle lifted florals, leatherwood honey and spice with exotic Asian pear, quince paste, baked apple and peach. A warm, waxy mouthfeel is freshened by crisp, clean acidity. The grape shows its versatility yet again.

95 points Jeni Port winecompanion.com.au

The vineyard is situated on the western side of Mt Camel at Toolleen, on the red Cambrian soil that has made Heathcote one of the foremost regions in Australia for the production of shiraz (Tellurian means ‘of the earth’). Viticultural consultant Tim Brown not only supervises the Tellurian estate plantings, but also works closely with the growers of grapes purchased under contract for Tellurian. Further Rhône red and white varieties were planted on the Tellurian property in 2011.