James Halliday's top sparkling wines

Below you'll find James Halliday's top Australian sparkling wines for 2023.

NV Jansz Tasmania Non Vintage Premium Cuvée

The 60/40% chardonnay pinot noir blend is sourced from Pipers River, Tamar Valley and Coal River. It has very good mousse, having spent a minimum of 18 months on yeast lees. It’s mouth-filling, with creamy cashew notes balanced by citrus zest and a dosage of 8.6g/l. Serious non vintage; great value.
93 points | $30 | Halliday profile | Jansz

NV Dominique Portet Yarra Valley Brut Rosé LD

Has a straw-pink hue with good mousse, 60/40% pinot noir chardonnay, 90% from 2020, 10% reserve wines dating to 2012. It spent 24 months on yeast lees, with a light dosage of 5g/l. It has focus and intensity, bright fruit and terrific length. Arguably the best value of the Australian contingent.
95 points | $42 | Halliday profile | Dominique Portet

NV Freycinet R3 Radenti Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Overall, 70/30% chardonnay pinot noir. All components are estate-grown, 40% from 2012, 44% from 2013 and 16% from 2014; disgorged September 2021, having spent seven years on yeast lees, and two years under cork. A rich, full-flavoured wine, with a flavour set of brioche, honey, citrus and crystallised fruit.
96 points | $62 | Halliday profile | Freycinet Vineyard

2020 Bellebonne Natalie Fryar Vintage Rosé

Only 267 dozen bottles made, sourced from four rows of pinot noir in the Pipers River district of Tasmania. The palest pink hue, with a bouquet full of meadow flowers, the delicate palate adding wild strawberries. It has a beautiful flow along and across the mouth thanks to its perfect balance.
97 points | $85 | Halliday profile | Bellebonne

2011 Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage

A 50/50% blend of estate-grown chardonnay and pinot noir, the vineyard certified organic in conversion to biodynamic. It spent 10 years on yeast lees, and has a fine mousse and a golden yellow hue attesting to the age. It hits the nail on the head with the perfect precision of the bouquet and palate.
97 points | $86 | Halliday profile | Stefano Lubiana

2018 Terre à Terre Daosa Piccadilly Valley Blanc de Blancs

This is the eighth vintage of a single-vineyard 100% chardonnay from the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills, hand picked and whole-bunch pressed. It spent 42 months on yeast lees before disgorgement in September ’22, and has a low dosage of 5g/l. Yellow roses, yellow peach, nougat and bright acidity are all in balance.
96 points | $90 | Halliday profile | Terre à Terre

NV Chandon Australia Étoile Brut

A true multi-vintage blend of eight years of Chandon’s Vintage Brut reserve wines held in barrel dating back to 2005. You’d think it might be too heavy and complex – but in fact, it has exceptional balance, poise and length, with flavours spanning white peach to croissant, leading to a lingering fresh finish.
97 points | $120 | Halliday profile | Chandon

2010 Brown Brothers Patricia Extended Lees Pinot Noir Chardonnay Brut

The sublime quality of the 2010 vintage grown on the Whitlands High Plateau in northeast Victoria’s King Valley was apparent from the outset. A parcel of 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay was kept to one side, and spent 12 years on yeast lees. The bouquet is exceptionally complex, with toasty cashew and a super line of glittering citrus acidity.
97 points | $160 | Halliday profile | Brown Brothers

See the complete list of Top 100 wines.

James Halliday’s Top 100 features in The Weekend Australian Magazine.

Some wines in this year's selection also feature on this site with notes by other Tasting Team members – as reviewed for Halliday Wine Companion.