Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée 2018

 

Load up your festive cheer with this fabulous vintage Tasmanian sparkling. I'll have another glass pronto, please.

Jansz Tasmania Late Disgorged Vintage Cuvée 2014

 

Jansz's Late Disgorged Vintage Cuvée 2014 has been held back to age on lees for an extra four years. The added complexity that the additional time has given this wonderful sparkling is telling. It's just another example of why consumers should drink more Australian sparkling rather than French imports.

Howard Park Jeté Brut NV

 

A wonderfully structured and balanced sparkling from Howard Park. I'll have another glass thanks.

Blue Pyrenees Midnight Cuvée 2017

 

For the time of year when fizz flows freely, here is an impressive sparkling wine sure to impress. A pre-dinner drink - yes please!

Blue Pyrenees Luna Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

 

A tidy fizz to kick off your night. 

Meerea Park Indie Vintage Brut Cuvee 2011

 

I was quite excited to see this sample come through the door. I can't recall the last time I saw a fizz from Meerea Park. If it's as bubbly as winemaker Rhys Eather's sideline commentary at the rugby, we're in for a treat.

Howard Park Grand Jeté 2015

Jeté is a ballet movement - something I never knew. The way this sparkling glides through the mouth I'm not surprised it's a dancer. A graceful and elegant wine in every sense.

Wicks Estate Sparkling 2019

For 20 bucks, this is a great pick up.

Azahara Sparkling Rosé NV

A little bit of fizzy fun without burning a hole in your back pocket.

Sirromet Signature Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2012

An easy drinking fizz. Not all that complicated but an enjoyable drop nonetheless.

Leeuwin Estate Pinot Noir Chardonnay Brut 2015

Tidy fizz from the west. A great aperitif, no question.

Ridgemill Estate Eloise Sparkling Brut 2017

Festive season fizz is always a goer. This from a little producer always proud to push boundaries and producing consistently high-quality wines.

Seppelt Salinger Vintage 2013

I'm happy to be wrong but no other fizz would match honey soy chips as good as this. Not that I had honey soy chips on hand but you get the picture.

Ridgemill Estate Eloise Brut Rose 2014

I was scratching my head a bit with this fizz. A 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, its appearance is not what you'd expect.

Angove Long Row Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV

You can't expect too much from a ten dollar fizz but this does the job pretty well.

Whiffs of melon, a squirt of citrus, poached apples sneak in late too. Although it is not a complex wine, toasted whole meal bread adds appeal through the mouth. Some zesty tang to finish.
Nothing amazing, nothing disastrous either. A good option for cheap fizz hunters.

Drink now.

85/100 - Good

Region: McLaren Vale
RRP: $10
Source: Sample

www.angove.com.au

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Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2013

Crunchy green apple, white stone fruit hanging low plus some lemon zest. A good enough drink with some complexity offered from three years on lees. There's a generosity about it but the tart acidity and sour sherby tang get my attention - not in a good way mind you. A fair drink at a price point which is quite competitive for fizz. I wouldn't have more than a glass.

Drink to to three years.

88/100 - Good

Region: Yarra Valley
RRP: $35
Source: Sample

www.coldstreamhills.com.au

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Katnook Founder's Block Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

A decent drink for the money. It feels a bit heavy in the mouth with some complexity coming from this Chardonnay weighted blend (60/40). Yeasty and sour dough, it's on the creamy spectrum. A zippiness to closes it out.

I could take it or leave it.

87/100 - Good

Region: Coonawarra
RRP: $23
Source: Sample

www.katnookestate.com.au

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Heemskerk Coal River Valley Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011

This comes in a bottle with a booty bigger than Beyoncé but the contents are far more stylish. Whilst I like the presentation, it's a bugger to store - but we eat with our eyes, right?

Oceans of pleasure spill out of the glass here. Fresh, elegant and precise.

Seppelt Salinger Vintage Cuvee 2012

The cork gods weren't kind here. The taint was bad enough to be noticed but not bad enough to screw the face up. Dare I say, many folk wouldn't have a clue this bottle was tainted anyway.

A blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier (60/30/10), it felt heavier in the mouth than expected. Scrumpy like, pureed apples, a lemon squeeze and some yeasty complexity. Good textural presence through the middle with a respectble length.

And extra point because it should be better than this.

Drink now.

90/100 - Very good

Region: Henty
RRP: $30
Source: Sample

www.seppelt.com.au

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Abel's Tempest Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

A carefree fizz to help you kick on with your Sunday afternoon.

Fresh factor is the mover and shaker here. The Chardonnay is crisp and the Pinot adds good depth. Dry, lemon pith and zest, apples plus some almond meal and bready action provide a launchpad for refreshment with a delicious drive and length. It's well priced too. I'd easily kick back with a glass.

Drink now.

90/100 - Very good

Region: Tasmania
RRP: $32
Source: Sample

www.heemskerk.com.au

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