1995 Pirie Estate Pinot Noir Chardonnay

This wine was a little bit of a hail-mary, sourced at auction, even though provenance was good it was with a dose of trepidation that I opened the bottle. There is no doubt that Tassie wines are built to age, but 20 years is a long time even for a sparkling. The wine that emerged was a joy to drink and provided a great reference point for aged fizz from across the strait.

The wine is a developed dark yellow colour in the glass that shows its age, a complex and interesting nose with clotted cream,citrus peel, brioche and nectarine.

It's a great experience to try wines that are going through a secondary or tertiary phase of their development with the flavour and texture so different from what the wine would have been in its youth.

On the palate there is candied apple strudel with oak induced spice and creaminess that defines the wine, there is just enough spritz to remind you it's a sparkling - suggestions of apple and white nectarine alongside ocean spray give character, with just enough acidity to frame the finish.

A superb example of aged Aussie sparkling.