When Nino Zoccali (Ex-Otto currently owner/head Chef of Pendolino) rings you and says your white wine is the best he has ever had from Australia, it’s a bit humbling. Nino was talking about the 2006 Wiggly Tail Marsanne. A few weeks later Blair and Tris Hayden (Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel) rang about the same wine. I think its best years are still to come.

Marsanne likes the Hunter. It is a light to medium bodied style which drinks well throughout its life, which is considerable. The 2011 was partially fermented in new French oak. The vineyard was planted (for no apparent reason) back in 1973 and makes a lovely wine, reminiscent of flower blossoms and wet slate (an unusual mix I grant you). The palate is dry, but not unpleasantly so.

This is a great wine to pull out with seafood that is a bit more flavoursome. Char grilled prawns work a treat. You can age this wine for 10 to 20 years I suspect, but it will drink well at any age.