To quote: Tyson Stelzer, “Tasmania is arguably the greatest region for sparkling wine anywhere in the world outside of Champagne itself.” Not only are there the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir traditional methods, there are Blanc de Blancs and of course, Rosé. Here’s a look at some of the more recognised marques.
Clover Hill, Tasmanian Cuvée, Rosé, NV
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Pale salmon, white bread crust, strawberries and rose petals. Crisp red berries, strawberries & cream, with juicy lemony chardonnay finish. Light mousse with refreshing acidity. Pass the smoked salmon blinis!
RRP: $32
Alc: Label: 12.5% , Tech Sheet: 11.7%
Clover Hill, Cuvée Exceptionnelle, Brut Rosé, 2010
Pinot Noir and Meunier. Deep terra cotta colour. Pink marshmallows, English rose petals, red fruits, Danish pastries. Long length of flavour, the complexity of the red fruits with savoury, umami balance. Mousse explodes deliciously on the tongue and the driving acidity keeps this fresh. Hardly shows being a 6 year old wine.
RRP: $56
Alc: Label: 12.5% , Tech Sheet: 11.7%
Jansz, Premium Rosé, NV
Nose of light rose petals and delicate red fruits with soft fresh just baked breads. Creamy palate, red fruits are plush and soft with almost a strawberry yoghurt character. Refined, rounded and elegant. The acidity is pleasant, driving through the velvety mousse. In the battle of the $32 NVs, this one come out on top.
RRP: $32
Alc: 12%
Bay Of Fires, Tasmanian Cuvée, Rosé NV
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Macerated strawberries and red fruits, baked shortcrust with a distinct milky note. Plenty of strawberry red fruit on the palate, quite dominant in fact. Refreshing citrus and mushroomy savoury quality. The mousse is textural as it dissolves; there’s some tannin for grip and the acidity is truly cutting.
RRP: $31.50
Alc: 12.5%
Arras, Rosé, 2005
Light onion skin/apricot blush colour. Creamy strawberry yoghurt smoothness, baked strawberry tart crust, some citrus notes cutting through too. Sforzando mousse, driving powerful mezzoalto timbre lines of red fruits, brioche and long citrus. The pinot tenor doesn’t become uncouth or masculine, it simply lifts and blossoms the already powerful linear acidity. Refined world class example of Rosé sparkling.
RRP: $80
Alc: 12.5%
Arras courtesy of House Of Arras
Jansz courtesy of Jansz Tasmania
Clover Hill wines supplied by Red+White Tasmania
