Arras Blanc de Blancs 2017
- 96
- $136
- Drink by: 2025-2035
Share
The 2017 vintage in Tasmania is proving to be a superb one for sparkling wine. This Blanc de Blancs is sourced from vineyards on the East Coast, Derwent Valley and Coal River Valley. Fermentation is in stainless steel with 5.5% in French oak, to add to the complexity. 100% malolactic fermentation and seven years on lees, the dosage is relatively low on all these 2017 sparkling wines, around 3 grams/litre here. This is elegance personified, fresh, clean, bright and pristine, with notes of florals and citrus. There are oyster shell notes and hints of freshly baked croissants. While the nose gives the impression of a most ethereal style, there is serious underlying power. Hints of grapefruit emerge towards the finish. An absolutely exquisite example of the blanc de blancs style, this should have at least a decade, quite possibly considerably longer, ahead of it. For me, we can go so far as to say this is one of the very best Australian sparklings yet made.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
