2017 House of Arras Grand Vintage

The Grand Vintage cuveé from Ed Carr and House of Arras is arguably Australia's most important sparkling wine.

Ed Carr sources the fruit from a mix of premium sites across Tasmania - from the Derwent Valley to the East Coast - to build a complete picture of the vintage. The 2017 release is Chardonnay dominant (69%) with a solid hit of Pinot Noir (31%), all aged for six years on lees before it sees the light of day.

That extended time in the bottle is what gives it that signature richness. It pours with a fine bead and delivers a complex mix of fresh and savoury flavours. Think lemon curd and grapefruit sitting alongside roasted almond, fresh brioche and crème brûlée. They’ve kept the dosage incredibly low at 2.8g/L, so despite those rich pastry notes, the finish is razor sharp and salty.

It is a wine of tension and volume that proves you don't need to look to France for world-class fizz.

98 points
"Great length and tension. A seriously smart sparkling wine, ageing slowly and gracefully."
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

96 points & Sparkling of the Year
"Finishes long and true with just a light phenolic texture and ample complexity."
- Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)