Brown Brothers Patricia Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Brut 2017

2017 was a cool year with a long slow ripening, the perfect conditions for exceptional sparkling wine. The fruit for the Patricia Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Brut is sourced from the high altitude, crisp, cool climate of the Whitlands plateau in the King Valley and this wine exemplifies just how exquisite Australian sparkling can be. The aromas are zesty and mineral with lemon blossoms, lime curd and the saline lift of a seaside breeze. The complexity on the palate, paired with intense vibrancy and freshness might lead you astray in a blind tasting, perhaps (way) further north to Champagne. There’s pithy, zesty grapefruit, white nectarine and custard tart with perfectly crisp shortcrust pastry and just a hint of lightly grilled hazelnuts. Serve at 8-10C to really experience the complexity alongside tempura fish and crunchy french fries.

Nicole Bilson

Wine Critic at Winepilot

Nicole loves wine. So much so that she gave up a successful career in Pharmacy, perfected her spitting technique, and moved from sunny Queensland to the wine-drenched laneways of Melbourne. Stints in hospitality, wineries, retail, sales and marketing filled the next few years while Nicole built her knowledge and searched for the right path. She completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma in 2016 and became a certified WSET Educator the following year. She now juggles a number of roles including teaching people about wine, curating wines lists for restaurants and bars, judging in Australian wine shows and, of course, writing. In 2016 she won the Negociants Working With Wine writing award and has since contributed to Gourmet Traveller WINE, Halliday Wine Companion Magazine and Nourish Magazine.

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