Wine
Sweetness is critical in this style of wine and they have struck on a level that clearly makes this wine immensely glugable. The vibrant red fruit characters of raspberry and strawberries are factors. The real winner is the price that you can get this on your table for.
There is a palate of fresh strawberries here that comes from the Pinot Noir with a relatively fine and lively bead.
Arras is the flagship of the Hardy's sparkling range that include the wines of Sir James. It is a multiple trophy winner and has complex primary fruit flavours and biscotti and brioche yeast characters. It is a wine that transcends the typical aperitif use often reserved for Australian Sparkling and becomes a serious food wine.
This has been the biggest selling sparkling red at Booze Brothers for the last two summers. This is partly due to the price but it is also clear that the ripe fruit sweetness and red fruit flavours are just right for the price.
The blend for this cuvee has remained unchanged since 1945. A blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier from vineyards around Marne, it has a touch of sweetness that seems common among many houses entry level NV Cuvees. David
Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir has a great following, it has the delicate strawberry characters of good cool climate Pinot, a fine bead and lingering natural acidity.
This wine came in at number 1 of 100 reviews in the WBM100 November 08 issue. Here's Tyson Stelzer's review: We agree.
"Australia's most consistently impressive sparkling Shiraz. Plum and red cherry freshness is derived from younger fruit in the blend, while mature shiraz lends rich savoury spice and dark chocolate flavours. Just how a wine of such quality can be produced every year for such a measly price is, frankly, totally beyond me."
This wine has pudding-like aromas of stewed plum, rhubarb and cinnamon. On the palate there is more of that plum flavour along with sour cherries and a raisin character that I'm guessing comes from a tawny port tirage. It has a fine bead and persistent fizz, and a little bit of oak tannin that complements the dry finish.
Up to 80% of the vineyard that go into Bollinger NV are from Cru or Premier Cru vineyards and is Pinot Noir dominant. By keeping 5-10% of each vintage for between 5 and 10 years in magnums and blending it back consistency of style is maintained.
Bosca Verdi is a popular inexpensive, sweeter Italian sparkling.