The Reviews
DAOSA Blanc de Blancs Sparkling 2020
G 96
All Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay from winemaker Xavier Bizot’s estate vineyards, settled first in old oak for seven months before tirage over 44 months. Serious business. An attractive glossy light gold, with pure Hills Chardonnay aromas, white nectarine, yellow-skinned grapefruit, reverbing in the palate with those citrus notes raising energy levels. Beautiful expression, even structures, spot on mousse, mouthwatering finish. Just the ticket for this leading exponent of the regional style. 12.9% alc Traditional method. Disgorged 9/24 Drink now–2034 Deviation Road Beltana Blanc de Blancs 2017 G 96 Adelaide Hills is home to the masterful sparkling winemaker Kate Laurie, who absorbed much of her French-style artisan skillset working in Champagne. Deviation Road’s suite of fabulous sparklings is led by her Beltana Blanc de Blancs, an all- Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay that exudes a lime-like fruit purity with the patisserie creaminess from its traditional method technique and a lengthy time developing its finessed complexity in the bottle before disgorgement, which occurs twice a year. The wine has classic Blanc de Blancs tang and refreshment, which tends to be Kate’s personal style preference, exuding great palate energy while still offering depth and texture. You can also delve deeper into the Beltana story via a magnificent and still extraordinarily fresh 2011 Late Disgorged release ($145), evidence this wine ages with enduring grace – deserving of extra moments to sip, ponder and respect. Lobethal Road Roussanne Roussanne 2016 G 96 First note the vintage – 2016, and what that developed, aged white wine, mid- gold colour tells us, as well as what the nose offers out of the glass, rich, honeyed lime curd, cardamom – so attractive. The palate reverbs all of that, with lifeline acidity, almost chewy textural, lingering grapefruit-like flavours, mouth-filling and generous in all its personality. Augers well for more current vintages and their ageability.12.4% alc Drink now–2028
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
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