It's Christmas Time - Time for Sparkling, Red and White
Blanc de Noirs & Sparkling Shiraz
sparklings at hayes family wines
Sparkling wines, red, white and rose have seen a dramatic increase in popularity over the past 10 years. Seems people cannot get enough. Maybe it is the bubbles, maybe it is the experience or feeling of celebration, but like all wines, some are better than others. In the main, it comes down to the fruit and a few key choices by the winemaker in respect to dosage (sugar) and any adjustments around the time of disgorgement.
Both our sparklings are by méthode champenoise which essentially requires a secondary fermentation in the bottle. This is achieved by adding a mixture of sugar and yeast to still wine. This wine is then bottled and capped. The yeast acts on the sugar and the resulting carbon dioxide remains trapped in the bottle. When the wine is ready, we disgorge or remove the sediment and either apply a new cap (in the case of the red) or insert a diam cork in the case of the white. Then it’s ready to go!
2019 Blanc de noirs
Our 2019 Blanc de Noirs is the last of our late disgorged batch of 2019 Vintage. The wine is 100% pinot noir from the old Pertalunga Vineyard once owned by the Seppelts. This vineyard is quite old by Adelaide Hills standards, having being planted in 1980.
2019 bottlings
The first disgorgement of this wine, released a few years ago, was extremely fresh and lively having spent just 18 months on lees. This release was double that and as a result it is more complex, and probably more food friendly. It drinks beautifully on its own but also is a great match for salads and seafood.
We do plan for one more release of this wine in perhaps 5 years time. But you will have to wait for that!
Our Sparkling Shiraz is based on 2004 and 2005 Estate Shiraz that was decanted and blended with a small amount of 2017 Shiraz. This, our third release, has spent almost 5 years on lees and is looking spectacular. Unfortunately, this will be our last of this batch with a new sparkling due in 2024.
SPARKLING SHIRAZ and Food
Sparkling Shiraz, particularly those with a low dosage such as ours, is a great match for ham, turkey and bacon as well as Peking duck and many Asian foods. Very versatile with a touch of celebration in every glass.
Sparkling Shiraz and Peking Duck, one the world’s best combinations