Shaw Wines Sparkling Cuvée 2021
- 88
- $30
- Drink by: 2022-2023
Share
There is always a place for an easy drinking, decently priced fizz. This very young option from Shaw Wines in the Canberra region is made from Semillon – not a typical choice when one thinks of sparkling wines. The grapes are harvested at night to preserve freshness followed by a gentle crushing and then pressed by airbags. A slow fermentation is effected at low temperatures and the Charmat method is used for the second fermentation. The team at Shaw recommend serving it with a salad or fish and I am on board with that, but would add that chilled on a warm afternoon, this would be a most pleasant diversion. They also suggest cellaring for up to ten years although, for me, this is a drink now style.
The wine is a thoroughly exuberant style. There are pleasing lemon meringue notes and citrus characters throughout. The backing is a gentle minerally base. This is an upfront style with clean, bright fruit, so a drink and enjoy now style of fizz.
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.
