Ed Carr seeks inspiration from Champagne’s greatest houses, employing long lees ageing, ambitious disgorgement dates, a dabble with oak and judicious levels of dosage. These are, unequivocally, the finest expressions of sparkling wine in Australia. Possibly the New World. This, the top of totem. Well in excess of10 years en tirage has embellished this luxuriant fizz with riffs on peat, truffle, hazelnut, sea spray and glazed quince. Pop this next to a Prestige Cuvée and swoon!
Deep, golden-yellow hue, with a very mature, complex, toasty-mellow bouquet. Traces of nougat, toffee and peanut brittle. Some popcorn, too. The wine is rich and mouth-filling, packed with flavour and richness, a trace of phenolic grip which is totally in harmony with the big presence of the wine. It lingers very long on the finish. Very impressive! It packs the kind of power seldom seen outside of very high-end Champagne. Very impressive. (Disgorged March 2021, after 14 years on lees)
97 points, The Real Review (July 2021)
Effortlessly complex and energetic, this is multi-faceted and revealing some age, with mushroom, beeswax and baked pastry tones allied with white chocolate, candied lemon peel and fresh apples. Incredibly long, rich and just lovely.
97 points, Decanter World Wine Awards 2021
Extraordinary: still so fresh and balanced, minerally, laser-like acidity; infinite length, apple, pear, brioche and honey coexistence seems impossible, but it's not, nor is its ability to stare down Champagne. 67/33% chardonnay and pinot noir from Derwent Valley and the East Coast. Spent 14 years on lees, the dosage only 2.6g/l. Disgorged March ’21.
99 points, James Halliday's Top 100 Wines of 2021
