Aged 8 years before disgorgement, these wines speak of their place. As Grange is heralded in SA, so should Arras be in Tasmania.  Along with classic and classy packaging, the brand is strong with quality productions such as this clip, which feature its understated craftsman, E.J (Ed) Carr. The vintage has just rolled from 2005 to 2006, but you may still be able to get hold of the 2005 through the online sales.

House of Arras, Grand Vintage, Tasmania, 2005

Sweet baked spiced apple tart, preserved lemon, oyster shell brine, sheep’s yoghurt creaminess. Complex and ethereal. The palate hints at leatherwood honey before, souffle like, those flavours burst on the tongue. A canyon’s echo of crystalline acidity scores deep in the memory. Make no mistake, this is world class.

RRP: $70

Alc: 12.5%

House of Arras, Grand Vintage, Tasmania, 2006
Pale gold colour. Exquisite balance between wine making and fruit. The right amount of creamy mouthfeel without being fat or (corp/)opulent.  Hyper clean lemon that seems to meld perfectly with biscuity crunch, before the merest vegemite yeasty and oyster shell complexity.  Every detail is precise, every line is straight, there’s nothing out of place. It is not a Champagne wannabe, it is not a weak charmat method. It is unashamedly Tasmanian, this is the wine that emphatically carves its name on the world sparkling stage.

RRP: $70

Alc: 12.5%

Wine samples courtesy of House of Arras