Top sparkling

NV Petaluma Croser Non Vintage 
A complex wine; its fine bead lasts for some time, with cashew/almond notes on the bouquet, shifting to include grapefruit and green apple on the long, perfectly balanced palate. Traditional method, hand-picked pinot noir and chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills, aged on yeast lees in  the bottle for 12 months; disgorged and bottled on demand.
93 points | $30 | Petaluma 

NV Pirie Traditional Method Non Vintage 
Tasmania gets the wine off to a flying start with hand-picked chardonnay and pinot noir. The persistent bead introduces aromas of citrus, Granny Smith apple and brioche/toast, the long palate driven by vibrant, minerally acidity complexed by nuances of spice and nougat. The base wine ex ’18, 10% of museum material, and spent 2 years on lees pre-disgorgement.
92 points | $30 | Tamar Ridge 

NV Dominique Portet Yarra Valley Brut Rosé LD 
Pale salmon; Yarra Valley sparkling wine is increasingly sourced – as this is – from the Upper Yarra Valley. Vivid aromas build on the 60/40% pinot noir and chardonnay base wine, take in red cherry and wild strawberry (the pinot), brioche and toast (the chardonnay). Traditional method, 24 months or more on lees (disgorged on demand), 6g/l dosage.
95 points | $36 | Dominique Portet 

NV Freycinet R3 Radenti Chardonnay Pinot Noir 
Radenti is doing a Krug, moving from vintage (the last ’11) to a blend of three vintages (40% ’12, 44% ’13, 16% ’14), the overall blend 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir. It is a vibrant wine, with fresh fruit flavours in a complex, textured frame. The extra year on cork has been beneficial, and will continue to build further complexity  into the future.
96 points | $65 | Freycinet 


2010 TarraWarra Estate Late Disgorged Yarra Valley Blanc de Blanc 
This is a remarkable wine, a one-off that has handsomely repaid the decision to defer disgorgement for a decade. The bright straw-green colour signals an elegant, finely-strung array of white flowers on the bouquet, moving to white peach, citrus and brioche on the palate. The overall balance and length are perfect. Traditional method; disgorged in May ’21.
96 points | $70 | TarraWarra Estate 

2018 Apogee Deluxe Sparkling Rosé 
Dr Andrew Pirie AM has devoted his life to the cause of viticulture and winemaking in Tasmania, his most recent move the establishment of Apogee in ’07. Full salmon-pink, it fully reflects the 81% contribution of pinot noir and pinot meunier, with its strong biscuity bouquet and raspberry characters underwriting its impact and length.
96 points | $80 | Apogee 

2013 House of Arras Blanc de Blancs  
At once complex yet feather light, Granny Smith apple, white peach, hint of brioche, the 2.9g/l dosage perfect. 100% chardonnay from Tasmania's East Coast, Derwent Valley and Coal River. Hand-picked, first press to 90% tank, 7% French barriques for primary fermentation, then to second fermentation and mlf in bottle; 7 years on lees. Bright quartz, amazing colour.
98 points | $130 | House of Arras 

2006 House of Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged  
Extraordinary: still so fresh and balanced, minerally, laser-like acidity; infinite length, apple, pear, brioche and honey coexistence seems impossible, but it's not, nor is its ability to stare down Champagne. 67/33% chardonnay and pinot noir from Derwent Valley and the East Coast. Spent 14 years on lees, the dosage only 2.6g/l. Disgorged March ’21.
99 points | $266 | House of Arras