Image from houseofarras.com.au.
House of Arras - Tasmania.
Established in 1995, Arras produces some of Australia's finest (and dearest) traditional method sparkling made under the watchful eye of founder winemaker Ed Carr. The story goes that Ed went to cool-climate Tasmania in 1988 to look for suitable sites... Nowadays, blocks of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are selected from six regions 'with varying terroir from inland to coastal, and warm/dry to cool/wet.'
Winemaking and ageing info for each fizz label is included in the tasting notes below. Retail prices are ££ (UK), €€ (Ireland) and $$$ (Aus).
A by Arras Premium Cuvée NV (12.5% abv): Pinot Noir (48%), Chardonnay (34%), Pinot Meunier; 30 months' yeast-lees ageing in bottle; 4.2 g/l dosage (basically added sugar), 6.4 g/l total residual sugar (pretty dry). Elegant and toasty with crisp vs attractive aged character to finish; very nice. £29, $39.
A by Arras Rosé Premium Cuvée NV (12.5% abv): Pinot Noir (55%), Chardonnay (32%), Pinot Meunier; 15% oak-fermented with malolactic fermentation, 30 months' yeast-lees ageing, 5.6 g/l dosage. Fruitier and a tad weightier, although it has similar crisp structure vs enticing biscuity flavours; also very good. £34, $39.
Brut Elite Cuvée 1601 NV (13% abv): Pinot Noir (62%), Chardonnay (29%), Pinot Meunier; based on 2016 vintage with some reserve wine and aged for 4 years on lees, 3.6 g/l dosage. Quite intense yet rounded and nutty, rich and tasty with lingering finish; very good. £44, $68.
Brut Elite Rosé Cuvée 1801 NV (13% abv): Pinot Noir (64%), Chardonnay (27.5%), Pinot Meunier; based on 2018 vintage with 4 years' lees-ageing, 2.5 g/l dosage (very dry). Ripe red fruits with brioche notes, rich and fruity mouthfeel vs fresh acidity; lovely pink fizz. £44, $68.
Grand Vintage 2015 (13% abv): Chardonnay (two-thirds) and Pinot Noir; 6-7 years on lees in bottle with 10% barrique-fermentation and malolactic, 2.6 g/l dosage. Complex yeasty nose, almost 'reductive' tones even, very crisp fresh palate while layered with loads of toasty flavours. Real class. £79, $125.
Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2014 (13% abv): 100% Chardonnay ('always the best of the vintage'), 10% barrel-fermented (new French oak) with malolactic fermentation (softens the acidity), 7 years' lees maturation and dosage of 2.5 g/l (= very dry). Toasty oaty nose and palate with nicely structured bite underneath all that rich tasty flavour profile, intense and lingering. Absolutely delicious. £82, $136.
Vintage Rosé 2014 (13% abv): Pinot Noir, Chardonnay (c. 60-40); similar winemaking to Blanc de Blancs although with 6 years on lees. Developed ageing notes with toasty yeast-lees yet very fruity too, attractive lingering mature flavours; very stylish pink fizz. £82, $136.
Jansz - Tasmania.
Jansz Tasmania was founded in 1986 to produce nothing but quality bottle-fermented sparkling wines ('Méthode Tasmanoise' as they tongue-in-cheekily call it), and that's still all they make. Head winemaker Teresa Heuzenroeder is in charge of creating a range of half-a-dozen white and rosé bubblies sourced from vineyards in Pipers River (northeastern Tasmania) and Coal River Valley (southeast). The former were originally planted by Champagne Louis Roederer and Heemskerk Wines, although the Hill-Smith Family purchased the estate in 1998.
Premium Cuvée NV (12.5% abv): 66% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, 100% malolactic fermentation; minimum ageing 18 months on lees, RS 8.6 g/l. Enticingly elegant, classic style fizz with nice toasty lees flavours set on a tightly structured palate, refreshing finish. €36. £15 (on offer) to £20.
Blue Pyrenees Estate - Pyrenees/Macedon Ranges, Victoria.
Blue Pyrenees Estate was established in 1963 by the French company Rémy Martin, who at the time was considered a pioneer of 'premium cool climate viticulture' in Australia. In 2019, the winery and vineyards were acquired by the owners of Glenlofty Estate, the well-known Victorian wine Richmond-Smith family.
Midnight Cuvée 'Méthode Traditionnelle' 2021 (12% abv): Mostly Chardonnay, aged on yeast in bottle for 24 months. Elegant and mature, rich yeast-lees notes with rounded texture and stylish refreshing finish. €34, $30-$35.
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