Eight at the Gate Wrattonbully Sparkling Shiraz NV
- 93
- $30
- Drink by: 2022-2023
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Sparkling reds is a category that many simply cannot come at. I have overseas friends who think that they are everything that is wrong with civilisation. Others think that they are gorgeous, a wonderful style full of flavour and fun. I would belong to the latter category. The wine is a mix of young and older vintages of Shiraz sourced from Limestone Coast vineyards. Fermentation is in open top fermenters, before half the wine spends at least two years ageing in oak barrels. The other half, the younger portion, is ‘current vintage’ (2021, in this case) fermented in stainless steel.
Foaming purple in colour, these might be a niche style but they really deserve a wider audience. Licorice, chocolate, violets, aniseed, all contribute to a charming plushness. The wine is medium length and there is some sweetness, which is in line with the style, but well balanced with the acidity. The palate moves more to plum pudding and cassis notes. Lots to love here so drink now – why wait?
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.
