The Auswine Forum

I've had a number of friends remark on memorable sparkling Shiraz wines they had recently. Any suggestions on good ones you've had recently and what food shows well with it?

I really like Majella which you can get for around $35 a bottle.

Peter Lehmann also but I found they can be a bit hit and miss.

pizzler wrote:I've had a number of friends remark on memorable sparkling Shiraz wines they had recently. Any suggestions on good ones you've had recently and what food shows well with it?

How much do you want to spend?

pizzler

lower $ bracket would recommend Bundaleer ( Sth Aust) & the old fav Seppelts original.

& almost forgot, an old fav of mine Gibsons Barossa Vale Sparkling Merlot, I think around the $24-$26 mark!

Bit more up market, tried one recently after advice from The RED BIGOT :
Ashton Hills 2001 S Shiraz.....around $35 -$40!

Very enjoyable indeed & popped a couple more botts in the Xmas fridge!!

Cheers & enjoy

Ronaldo

A couple of threads worth looking at are the following

http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=8253

http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6294

I think they can go with most foods but more to the point there are a couple of different styles. The Aged v Young and fruity types and the Dry v Off-dry types. Can change what a suitable food accompaniment would be.

However, the traditional christmas foods of turkey and ham are suitable at this time of year

cheers

Carl

Davo wrote:

pizzler wrote:I've had a number of friends remark on memorable sparkling Shiraz wines they had recently. Any suggestions on good ones you've had recently and what food shows well with it?

How much do you want to spend?

I have several price points:
1. Pop and serve for a large group...$20US
2. Terrific value for the price...$50US
3. World class wine...$75US

I've read about the Rockford Black Shiraz wines as falling into that latter category, but they aren't available in the US.

+1 for Majella. I was impressed with it's quality last year. for a comparatively modest price at that.

Whilst Rockford Black is good, I think Joseph is the superior.

Make the +2 for Majella,

A couple of others that are not so common, Yalumba D Black (cellar door only I think) and Mitchell Peppertree both punch above their price points IMHO.

Glen

I am uncertain as to what is available in the USA, and as far as prices are concerned from what I have seen in the past what the cost is in Australia in AUD appears to be almost a direct ratio to cost in the USA in USD.

So my faves:-

<20> $50
Seppelt Show Reserve
Rockford Black
Peel Estate "Baroque" (Drier cremant style)

I am uncertain as to what is available in the USA, and as far as prices are concerned from what I have seen in the past what the cost is in Australia in AUD appears to be almost a direct ratio to cost in the USA in USD.

So my faves:-

Under $20
Seppelt Original
Morris Shiraz Durif
Reilly's Sparkling Mad

$20 to $50
Yalumba D ( in fact a Cab/Shiraz and the 2002 possibly the best across all price ranges)
Willows "The Doctor"
Cofield
Anderson (Sparkling Cabernet)
Reilly's Dry Land
St Hallett
Leasingham Classic Clare (when clean)

Over $50
Seppelt Show Reserve
Rockford Black
Peel Estate "Baroque" (Drier cremant style)

Sorry for the double post but the programming deleted most of the 1st and I had to alter the way it was formatted to post completely.

Anderson sparkling shiraz from Rutherglen.
Current release is 99, and I love it. around $30.
They have just released a reserve, around $50, but I have not tasted it.
Howard Anderson worked for Seppelts making sparklings for years.

Add to the over $50:

Castagna Sparkling Genesis
Joseph

Wizz wrote:Add to the over $50:

Castagna Sparkling Genesis
Joseph

They are both excellent....the latest Rockford disgorgement is a cracker.....also had an extremely gluggable Langmeil Sparkling recently.

DaveB wrote:

Wizz wrote:Add to the over $50:

Castagna Sparkling Genesis
Joseph

They are both excellent....the latest Rockford disgorgement is a cracker.....also had an extremely gluggable Langmeil Sparkling recently.

I find the Langmeil has very pleasant fruit but the bead is way too coarse and it is lacking that lovely creamy texture that can only be found in sparklers that have spent adequate time on the lees. An excellent BBQ quaffer but I will be sitting in the corner drinking the Yalumba D.

Davo wrote:

DaveB wrote:

Wizz wrote:Add to the over $50:

Castagna Sparkling Genesis
Joseph

They are both excellent....the latest Rockford disgorgement is a cracker.....also had an extremely gluggable Langmeil Sparkling recently.

I find the Langmeil has very pleasant fruit but the bead is way too coarse and it is lacking that lovely creamy texture that can only be found in sparklers that have spent adequate time on the lees. An excellent BBQ quaffer but I will be sitting in the corner drinking the Yalumba D.

Fair enough......Sparkling red ain't exactly a pontificating style of wine though....I think most of the beads on Sparkling Shiraz are a bit coarse but the whole style should be about the fruit and the wines vibrancy...agreed some do it better than others though

An enjoyable, lighter, quaffing style I found in Queensland (and a bit left-field too) was Sirromet's Sparkling Petit Verdot.

Around AUS$20 - not sure of availability in USA, but Sirromet is one of the larger Queensland producers.

I realise that last statement may draw howls of derision

Cheers

Allan

Bit of a plug for a mate here, but well deserved: Coates Consonance Cuvee (made by Duane Coates, who occasionally posts here as Lagare Lout) is a sparkling shiraz that combines fruit from Clare, McLaren Vale and Langhorne. It's less than 20 bucks and I think it's a cracker (even though he's a mate, I wouldn't post this unless I really liked it). Dark and rich without being too sweet, which is a fault that plagues a lot of sparkling reds around that price point. Email Duane if you can't find it (Google for him).

Davo wrote:
I find the Langmeil has very pleasant fruit but the bead is way too coarse and it is lacking that lovely creamy texture that can only be found in sparklers that have spent adequate time on the lees. An excellent BBQ quaffer but I will be sitting in the corner drinking the Yalumba D.

Have to agree here - the only Langmiel I tried was coarse beaded which made it look unrefined.

Others like Charles Melton too, I drank a couple of them quite young and they seem to need some bottle age.

I'm not a FRS drinker, rarely even a FWS drinker but still read about them with a modicum of interest. As such I recall having seen Brian mention FRS from Bleasdale and Tahbilk that I think he's bought. Just a couple that haven't yet been mentioned.

Cheers

daz

DaveB wrote:
.....Sparkling red ain't exactly a pontificating style of wine though....

Really??? Obviously not enough exposure to this style.

Well that has given me an idea for an upcoming dinner

Daryl Douglas wrote:I'm not a FRS drinker, rarely even a FWS drinker but still read about them with a modicum of interest. As such I recall having seen Brian mention FRS from Bleasdale and Tahbilk that I think he's bought. Just a couple that haven't yet been mentioned.

Cheers

daz

Really Daz, a Tahbilk? What a surprise. coming from you

Having said that, and after our discussion in Brisbane, I have rejoined the Tahbilk wine club after a few years off. However, I find it surprising that they will send freight free to you in Townsville, but charge me $12 a case to Perth (a capital city). Sacre bleu`

Allan

PS: I was surprised to see Tahbilk sparkling marsanne in there with the shiraz. Is there ANYTHING they won't do with that particular variety?

Davo wrote:

DaveB wrote:

Wizz wrote:Add to the over $50:

Castagna Sparkling Genesis
Joseph

They are both excellent....the latest Rockford disgorgement is a cracker.....also had an extremely gluggable Langmeil Sparkling recently.

I find the Langmeil has very pleasant fruit but the bead is way too coarse and it is lacking that lovely creamy texture that can only be found in sparklers that have spent adequate time on the lees. An excellent BBQ quaffer but I will be sitting in the corner drinking the Yalumba D.

The Yalumba D is the way to go - I have not seen it on shelves since the 99. Cellar door only might be correct.

chillwrx wrote:

Davo wrote:

DaveB wrote:

Wizz wrote:Add to the over $50:

Castagna Sparkling Genesis
Joseph

They are both excellent....the latest Rockford disgorgement is a cracker.....also had an extremely gluggable Langmeil Sparkling recently.

I find the Langmeil has very pleasant fruit but the bead is way too coarse and it is lacking that lovely creamy texture that can only be found in sparklers that have spent adequate time on the lees. An excellent BBQ quaffer but I will be sitting in the corner drinking the Yalumba D.

The Yalumba D is the way to go - I have not seen it on shelves since the 99. Cellar door only might be correct.

It's available around the stores and I am sure our host would be able to get it for you.

The Seppelt Silveband is another one that is supposed to be quite good. I think it was around $35 on release but I've seen it advertised cheaper lately.

I haven't actually tried it myself but people here were saying it was good on release. It's clearly aimed in between the Original and the reserve.

bacchaebabe wrote:The Seppelt Silveband is another one that is supposed to be quite good. I think it was around $35 on release but I've seen it advertised cheaper lately.

I haven't actually tried it myself but people here were saying it was good on release. It's clearly aimed in between the Original and the reserve.

Ooh forgot this one. Yes, its noicey noicey. Could go on the block for lunch tomorrow.

Yes, I liked the Silverband, and should buy more.

The seasonal red sparkler lineup for me is:
- 6x Seppelt 05 Original Sparkling Shiraz (for whenever)
- 2008 disgorgement of the NV Primo Estate Joseph (Christmas lunch)
- 1997 Leasingham Classic Clare sparkling shiraz (Christmas Eve, to go with double cut organic rib eye steaks in a Spanish marinade)
- 2005 Majella sparkler as the reserve (crown seal) in case of dodgy corks or brett).

Cava, homebrew and 2008 rieslings are there for some variety as well.

Morris Bros Shiraz/Durif is exceptional value and one of teh original sparkling reds. Nothing overly sophisticated about it. Just good drinking sparkling red.

pstarr wrote:- 2008 disgorgement of the NV Primo Estate Joseph (Christmas lunch)

Did they do a 2008 disgorgement of the Joseph? I thought the 2007 was the latest.

GrahamB wrote:

pstarr wrote:- 2008 disgorgement of the NV Primo Estate Joseph (Christmas lunch)

Did they do a 2008 disgorgement of the Joseph? I thought the 2007 was the latest.

Yes they did, available from about last November. $70/bottle now though. Ouch.

Wizz wrote:

GrahamB wrote:

pstarr wrote:- 2008 disgorgement of the NV Primo Estate Joseph (Christmas lunch)

Did they do a 2008 disgorgement of the Joseph? I thought the 2007 was the latest.

Yes they did, available from about last November. $70/bottle now though. Ouch.

Yes, I just checked the website and it is 2008. Because I saw (the new disg) in about Oct 2007, I thought it was an 07 disgourg. Silly me. Everyone knows you can get the 08 disg in 07.