Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz NV

Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz is a deeply coloured, richly flavoured take on a distinctly Australian sparkling style. Dark berry and sweet plum fruit lead into savoury spice, with fine bubbles lifting the wine's velvety texture and silky tannins. Made in Langhorne Creek, it draws on a rolling blend of Shiraz stretching back to 1997, giving mature complexity while newer wine keeps the fruit fresh. Serve it properly chilled, around 8 to 10°C. It is a terrific match for roast duck, peppered beef skewers, cheeses, or the Christmas table when a standard sparkling white feels a little too predictable.

What the winery says:

Bleasdale describes this as a non-vintage blend of Shiraz containing wine from every vintage since 1997, refreshed with new-vintage Shiraz to retain freshness and consistency. Fruit from sandy and stony vineyards contributes aromatic lift, while a smaller component from clay and loam soils brings richness through the mid-palate. The wine is fermented in open vats before maturation in seasoned oak and tank, with the reserve blend managed in a modified solera system. Expect deep colour, dark berry aromas, sweet plum and spice, silky tannins and a rich, smooth palate.

What the experts say:

James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 Points (NV)
“Includes ‘a little splash of malbec’; gold medal winner National Wine Show of Australia 2021. The base wines came from the 1997 to 2022 vintages. Has threaded the needle with lower dosages than usual (hence the gold medal), investing the wine with freshness and finely wrought tannins. Is there nothing outside the skills of Paul Hotker? Not to mention, value for money across the board."