By Christine Salins.
Add sparkle to the festive season by celebrating with bubbles. We’ve come up with an all-Australian list for you to choose from, in a range of styles and prices. Pop, pour and enjoy.
Minchinbury Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir, $11.99: You don’t need to mortgage the house to splash out on this one. Minchinbury’s new premium range comes in at a steal of a price (you might even find it for under $10), yet it adds just that little bit more sophistication to a brand that has been around for 100-plus years. With notes of green apple and white peach, this Chardonnay Pinot Noir blend is crisp and refreshing and goes nicely with antipasto, salads, and summer barbecues.
Minchinbury Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Rosé, $11.99: Also released just in time for the party season is this delicately floral sparkling Rosé. For those who like their bubbles with a touch of pink, it’s fresh and vibrant with notes of cherry and lemon/lime. Pop some prawns on ice and pour yourself a glass to go with them.
Rewild Prosecco, $9.99: It’s rare to find a budget-priced wine that has been produced sustainably but Duxtons Vineyard, producer of this one, has been praised for its commitment to the environment. Available exclusively from Dan Murphy’s, this vegan-friendly wine is medium-bodied and dry with generous stonefruit, melon and citrus notes.
Primo Estate Prosecco NV, $20: This zippy, mouth-watering wine has fine bubbles, delicate lemon aromas, and notes of nashi pear, green apple, and sweet/spice. Guaranteed you’ll be reaching for a second bottle.
Sapling Yard 2021 Entrechat, $42: This methode traditionelle beauty (60% Pinot Noir; 35% Chardonnay; 5% Pinot Meunier) from the Canberra District is a delicious find. Having spent two years on lees, it is elegant and dry with strawberry aromas, white peach and brioche notes, and a lovely creaminess. The fine bead stays long in the glass, and it’s all very enticing and harmonious.
Jansz Tasmania 2018 Vintage Cuvée, $50: Tasmania is producing world-class sparkling wine, so why not forgo the imported bubbles and see what all the fuss is about? This and the following two vintage cuvées are great examples from the superb Jansz Vineyard in the Pipers River region of northern Tasmania. Pale gold with a delicate bead and fine mousse, the 2018 Vintage Cuvée has nougat, hazelnut, raspberry and toasty brioche characters with a subtle complexity from three years on lees.
Jansz Tasmania 2018 Vintage Rosé, $54: The sweet fragrance of roses in summer bloom had me hooked, even before I got to the elegant berry and Turkish delight characters. Fine tannins and a long refreshing finish make this a beautiful match for luxurious festive fare like smoked salmon and caviar.
Jansz Tasmania 2014 Late Disgorged Vintage Cuvée, $60: Having been aged for more than seven years on less, there’s an extraordinary complexity to this wine. Made only in years where the wine quality reaches exceptional standards, it has toasty notes of brioche and roasted almonds, along with strawberries, nougat and hints of lemon zest and honey. Talk about celebrating in style.
JOSEPH Sparkling Red NV, $90: McLaren Vale’s Primo Estate produces this opulent wine in a tall, slender bottle that oozes with style. The base wine is a blend of museum vintages from the last 40 years, combined with back vintages of Primo Estate Shiraz and the flagship JOSEPH Moda Cabernet Merlot. The wine spent two years on lees and had some aged fortified wine added. All of this helps explain the luxury price tag. Black cherries, roast plums, and dark chocolate notes make this alluring wine the perfect gift for your nearest and dearest. Try it with plum pudding.
Finally, for a delightful festive touch, pop some of Freixenet’s gold and pink/silver bon bons on the table or in a Christmas stocking. Available for $13 from Dan Murphy’s and BWS, each stylish bon bon contains a piccolo-sized bottle (200ml) of Freixenet Sparkling Rosé or Prosecco.
