Mitchell Sparkling Peppertree Shiraz NV

This is no easy-over, sweet, ripe red bubbly. There is some serious intrigue in here, with clear evidence of winery-aged material included in the multi-vintage cuvee. It’s made in the traditional method – kept on its lees in this very bottle before finished and dosed with eight-year-old fortified shiraz.

So, that’s the background, and well worth knowing. To pour and taste, this is right up there with the best of its class, and yes, there’s a wave of mint-eucalyptus to start, which is totally acceptable in such an Aussie wine style. The rest is as rustic and rural as all get out: earthy, rocky, leathery as well as suggesting tinges of kitchen garden herbs like rosemary and sage that have been seeped in a bucket of crushed blackberries. There’s more too – with a decent mouthful of tannins to grip and guide you on its lingering, soulful way. Impressive and heroic.

Tony Love

Journalist at Winepilot

Tony is best known for his 10 years as News Corp’s National Wine Writer, with weekly columns in major metropolitan mastheads throughout Australia including The Adelaide Advertiser, The Sydney Daily Telegraph and the Melbourne Herald Sun. He continues to write feature articles and columns for all the major Australian wine media publications. Tony has also worked as a restaurant reviewer, section editor, book editor, digital content provider, journalism teacher and was named Wine Communicators of Australia 2018 Legend of the Vine (SA). Find out more about Tony at tonylove.com.au

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