Tamar Ridge, Vintage Cuvee, 2006

Unless you have been asleep, or merely fixated on the gold dress, it is impossible to skim over my weakness for Tassie bubbles. It has brought me to the other side of the world and although the 100 Aussie sparkling wines  has a pretty strong Tassie bias, this is one that isn't on the initial list.   

This omission isn't for any other reason than there was already way over 100 on the initial list and it needed slimming down a little. 2006 has provided some very smart wines from Tasmania and the Tamar Ridge vintage Cuvee is no exception, it is a cracker of a wine.

Medium lemon with a fine persistence, the nose is yeasty and autolytic with an almost oxidised approach combined with honey, brioche, apple and apricot. On the palate the mousse is rich and creamy which sets off a sparkling that is elegant but firm and flavoursome. Baked apples and stone fruits give way to leave the wine with a combination of citrus, honey and biscuits at the end. 


It will be interesting to watch this one develop as it is still very much developing rather than being fully mature but it is already an absolute belter. One to get a case of and pull out a bottle every now and then just to see how it is doing.

No:49 Bay of Fires Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2003

Tasmania produces some great sparkling wine all over the state but there is definitely a corner of sparkling wine dreams that is inhabited by Jansz, Delamere, Kreglinger and the glorious Bay of Fires.

Everything from the Bay of Fires sparkling range is great drinking and the 2003 is no exception. Inviting from the get-go, the 2003 is sprightly in the glass the small, fast moving, bubbles settling to some fine beading on the rim.

On the nose the maturity is obvious and complex, rich and toasty flavours, stone fruits, baked apple, biscuits and a very pleasant autolytic aroma. These all follow through on the palate to show what a cracking sparkling wine this is. A perfect balance of development married with fresh acidity, a creamy mousse and rich and complex flavours, this is a really stylish glass of bubbles. 

My 100 Australian sparkling wines to try is a little heavy on the Tasmanian sparklers but when they are like this, who am I to argue?

No:54 Arras Grand Vintage 2003

Just over a year ago I started the 'Living The Dream' phase of my life and moved to Tasmania. For those of you that have never visited Tas-vegas....Tanzania is the place in Africa, no it isn't that cold and the bubbles are the best non-Champagne sparkling wines on the planet.

When faced with the long journey back to the UK, the biggest question is always which wine to take with me. Most of my friends aren't massively amused that I've moved away to the actual other side of the world so I was planning on appeasing them with quality beverages on my return.

The choice of bubbles was a nightmare, I'm surrounded by awesome fizz everywhere I turn. In the end I decided to go for a classic, Arras Grand Vintage 2003 made by sparkling wine maestro Ed Carr. Produced from fruit sourced from the Derwent, Huon and Glenora Valley the wine is Chardonnay dominated with a very specific 38.7% being Pinot Noir.

Arras did me proud. Golden and vibrant in the glass with a lively bubble and very creamy mousse. On the nose the richness came through with candied fruits and a yeasty characteristics which followed through to the palate where it was met with a surprisingly youthful palate. The acidity is still pretty lively, the palate almost tight and very well constructed with the mushroomy notes of development mingling comfortably with honey and baked apple. 

We started off our epic sparkling-a-thon with this wine which was perfect for a reunion and the bringing together of my new home and the place where I grew up but presented me with another problem. What the hell should I take back next time?

For the full list of 100 Australian Sparkling wines to try click here

No:19 Jacob's Creek Moscato, NV, South Australia

Jacob's Creek has had mixed fortunes so far with me; a fun, fresh and fruity rose did pretty well and we happily polished the bottle off between us at my small friends joint first birthday party. Not the small friends you understand, they were busy smearing frozen watermelon on themselves and fighting over toys.

 Jacob's Creek NV not so good, reminiscent of pub carpets it was something of a calamity of a sparkling wine so when faced with their Moscato I approached it like a postman seeing an unfamiliar dog.

On the nose pears, peaches, apricots all made for a fresh and fruity start. On the palate a very similar story with hints of vanilla, candied peel and orange blossom diving in to the mix. At 9% this is as sweet as expected and has a creamy mouthfeel but good acidity to balance out the sweetness and avoids becoming claggy (Google it!)

Despite not having the obligatory gold stickers all over the bottle this wine is highly awarded and I can see why. It's a well balanced, approachable, fresh and fruity off-dry sparkler. If you are looking for something a little sweeter and a little lower in alcohol this isn't a bad place to start at all.

No:101 Delamere Blanc de Blanc 2006

I have a new addition to the corner of dreams up river in the Pipers Brook area. Joining my happy fizzy trio of Jansz, Bay of Fires and Kreglinger is lovely Delamere. They're not that new, I have only just discovered them which is why they really ought to be on the 100 Australian sparkling wines but foolishly they are not. 

Run by Shane and Fran this traditional method sparkler is made on site in the small but functional space they operate that doubles with their cellar door. 

Pale lemon-green with tiny fast moving bubbles the wine shows toast, honey, apple, lemon, brioche and apricot on the nose. Dry with a crisp, fresh acidity and a creamy mousse. The wine is flavoursome with a lot of elements from the nose coming through to the palate and a wonderful bread and biscuit addition to create a stylish, lean and elegant wine.  

I'm a huge fan of this wine, it is beautifully put together and will carry on maturing over the next few years if you find a suitable place to hide it.

No:80 Croser, Petaluma, 2008

One of the joys of the wine industry beyond the vinous pleasures is the people one meets along the way. The other joy is that they always bring nice wine.


Celebrating new friends (Dredgey, Ella and Tom) new jobs (me!) and a new PhD (Reuben) we were a merry bunch indeed and the evening kicked off with Croser 2008. Being too busy gossiping and eating cheese I managed to write a tasting note but managed took no pictures. In these circumstances I've done the only thing that can be done and included a wine dog picture instead. This is Max, he watched us drink the Croser 2008.

Made in Piccadilly Valley in Adelaide Hills these bubbles are pale lemon with lots of small fast moving bubbles forming a fine beading on the rim. On the nose ripe stone fruits such as apricot and nectarine combined with a hint of vanilla, brioche and a little almost custardy flavour. 


The ripe stone fruit flavour continued on the palate where fresh citrus and apples keep the wine fresh and crisp with a real youthful edge. A blend of 66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay the wine was fermented in old Vosges barriques and went through a partial malolactic fermentation to create an approachable and enjoyable wine.

No:76 Taltarni Brut Tache 2009

 Continuing the pink theme with the joy that is Taltarni Brut Tache 2009. If you were hoping for a bit more suspense as to whether I enjoyed it or not, the tension is kind of gone now isn't it?

Made traditionally with fruit sourced from Victoria 57%, Tasmania 5% and South Australia 38% with a 15ml dosage of Cabernet Sauvignon to stain it a subtle pink(the French word is Tache) , the more delicate amongst you may be slightly alarmed but with Taltarni you are in incredibly safe hands.

Aside from the Cabernet in the dosage, the wine is a blend of 66% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir and 3% Pinot Meunier which has been put together to create a very stylish wine.

Pale salmon pink in colour with lots of small fast moving bubbles forming a fine beading on the rim. On the nose a cacophony of scents, strawberries, redcurrants, lemons, toast, candied stone fruits, mango and floral notes are most enticing.

Clean and crisp on the palate the flavours present on the nose continue with the addition of some sweet spice elements and ripe tropical flavours. A fresh and fruity rose with clean, crisp acidity and a very pleasant finish. Thoroughly enjoyable and very classy wine which will always be welcome in my glass.

Day & Night 2007, Tasmania

Own brand sparkling wine, where does one start? It was under $20 but it was made in Tasmania so I figured that if I was going to take a chance, Tassie bubbles are a pretty safe bet.

Made by a company based in Lutana just outside Hobart with fruit sourced from all over Tasmania, Day & Night is made for the 9/11 bottle shop chain. At four years old this blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay hopefully would show some developmental characteristics but beyond that I was intrigued but not overly expectant.

Lemons, baked apple and brioche on the nose was a good start and the palate followed through to be clean and fresh with ripe acidity, baked bread, apples, lemons and hints of toast with a slightly honeyed finish.

Day & Night 2007 is not going to set the world on fire but if funds are limited and you are in need of some tasty bubbles this really isn't a bad option to go for. It is pleasant to drink, crisp and nicely put together. Who says Tasmania can't do value for money?

No:28 Kreglinger Brut de Blancs 2003

After the success of Kreglinger Vintage Brut 2004, I had high hopes for the Brut de blancs. A year older and just as interesting.

Pale lemon with tiny bubbles showing flavours of ripe pear, apple, brioche and apricot on the nose. On the palate the ripe, full flavours continue elegantly balancing ripe stone fruits with a creamy mouthfeel, lively acidity, toast and biscuit notes and a long finish.

This is definitely another stylish and well constructed sparkling wine which is very sprightly for eight years old. It will be interesting to see how this develops over the next few years but it is an impressive wine with good potential.

No: 52 Kreglinger Vintage Brut 2004

Having given myself a month off to move house, settle in and get to grips with life in Tassie, it would be rude of me not to storm back with a Tasmanian beauty. For the first time in a long time I was able to use the phrase "I've not been here for years" when arriving at Pipers Brook which shares its driveway with another great Tasmanian sparkling wine, Jansz.

Skipping over the opportunity for a gossip with Maxine, the lovely Cellar door manager at Jansz, I wound my way through the vineyard to the Pipers Brook Cellar Door. Kreglinger are a Belgian company which now own the company and produce some very stylish bubbles and a fairly horrible website.

Luckily the smarts are in the winemaking department who produce this delicious sparkler. Pale lemon in appearance and toasty, ripe tropical fruit flavours on the  nose alongside stone fruits, apple and lemon. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir the wine is yeasty and rich yet lively in the mouth with a youthful fresh lemon and apple flavour which belies its years.

The Kreglinger Vintage Brut 2004 is intense, complex and interesting, alongside the obvious maturity is a lean and elegant acidity and ripe, fresh fruits. It's always nice to see a big juggernaut of a company making wines like this and getting it so very right.

No.14:Taltarni Brut NV

What's a girl to do when she arrives a little early for dinner with the fantabulous Nat from Jansz? Why have a glass of bubbles of course!

Not a realistic interpretation of last Thursday. Imagine darker and with polar bears!

Taltarni Brut NV is made in the Pyrenees from fruit sourced in Victoria and the Clover Hill vineyard in Tasmania and is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Made in the traditional method the wine has the merest hint of pink and a nose that shows plenty of stone fruits, fresh apples and ripe lemons. On the palate these lovely ripe, fresh flavours of apricots, peaches, apples and lemons combine with some red fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and cherries. 

 The acidity is harmonious and keeps the wine fresh in the mouth and although this isn't the most complex of wines, it is definitely a pleasure to drink and perfect for gossiping with friends pre-martinis.

No.48:Josef Chromy 2008

Still work here. Still biased....

The 2008 from Josef Chromy is a different beast to the NV and a young whippersnapper to boot. Pale lemon with small fast moving bubbles and fine beading on the rim the nose is highly aromatic with brioche,  honey, apples, lemon, candied orange peel and a hint of richness.

A very creamy mouthfeel with lots of youthful characteristics of green apple, lemons and fresh bread this sparkling is just getting going. Softer, richer and less racy than the non vintage I would be very interested to see how this continues to develop over the next five years to see how all the promise it shows eventually reveals itself. 

I haven't tasted much older Tasmanian sparkling wines but the few I have tasted have been very impressive and I will definitely be tucking some of the Josef Chromy 2008 aside to enjoy over the years. Now all I have to do is see what older vintages are lurking over at the winery.....

No.2:Josef Chromy NV

This review must come with a disclaimer. I work here but then again I only work in good places so you'll have to decide for yourself what level of bias I am possibly at!

Josef Chromy is located in the southern part of the Tamar Valley wine route in the little village of Relbia. Josef has been a part of the history of many local wineries including Tamar Ridge but it is here that Josef Chromy wines reside with Jeremy Dineen at the helm.

All the sparkling wines are made traditionally and disgorged on site at our fancy winery across the lake from the cellar door. See below for aforementioned lake and winery peeking around the corner.

I give people the NV to try every day so being the consummate professional that I am I try it frequently to make sure it's at its finest. A citrussy nose with hints of white flowers amongst the fresh lemon and green apple it follows through on the palate to create a racy, clean and crisp sparkling wine.

A good palate cleanser, the fresh vibrancy of the wine is an ideal match for our oysters or a cheeky livener pre-dinner to awaken the palate. The Josesf Chromy NV has a youthfulness about it without tasting under ripe or too green and I would recommend it as a drinker more than a keeper as its sprightly nature is its selling point.

Biased or not? Why don't you pop down and see me at the Cellar door and decide for yourself?