2013 Best's Great Western Sparkling Shiraz

Sparkling Shiraz is a unique Australian wine that’s synonymous with the Great Western region having been in production since the early 1900’s. The base wine for this Cuvee is left on yeast lees in bottle for 20 months or more and disgorged in the traditional method. The dosage liqueur contains a small quantity of very old Best’s Liqueur Muscat.

Impressive pour with a deep dark purple tinged mousse that shows excellent hold. Totally opaque black dark purple colour with an exceptionally fine bead that shows good persistence. Ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark plum aromas are followed by some dark chocolate, vanillin oak and spice notes. Very rich and concentrated the palate is flooded with opulent ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark plum flavours that have an adolescent youthfulness. Underlying dark chocolate and spicy vanillin oak characters are also apparent. Very dry finish with slightly chalky tannins. Excellent power with a long conclusion of liquorice, ripe blackberries, dark chocolate and spicy vanillin oak. A big rich sparkling Shiraz that will evolve beautifully in the cellar.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc 14%

Other Reviews….
The colour here is something else; it makes deep purple look insipid. Blackberry and violet, dark boiled XMAS cake, chocolate and leather, with a slightly briny character too. It’s dense and tannic, full of juicy purple flavour, along with raspberries, salt beef and spice. It’s almost more savoury than simply sweet, and has layers of complexity and a full throttle finish rolling with dark chocolate and a thick pillow of tannin. Pretty much, this is how you do it. Almost ready now, but will really be better still in a few years. Drink 2017-2029+
94+ points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front