Bollinger Special Cuvee NV

Sometimes I fully embrace my English-ness and enjoy the dynamic duo (or trio really) that is champagne with fish and chips. For these occasions Bollinger is always top of my list as it always brings full, complex flavours and a crisp acidity that cuts through the produce of a quality chippy.

Tasting the Special Cuvee NV at the CIVC tasting in Sydney was another reminder of why I always go back to this house. Pinot heavy, around three quarters of the blend comes from red grapes, the NV sees around four years ageing before being released. The use of cask maturation brings weight and complexity  to a very stylish wine.

Pale lemon-green in colour with apples, lemons, stone fruits and caramelised nuts on the nose the palate is clean with refreshing acidity that balances out the weightier nuts and mushroom characteristics that elegantly mix with fresh apples, lemons and hints of brioche.

An elegant and complex wine the Bollinger Special Cuvee deserves its moniker as something a little bit special that sets it apart from the crowd.

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?