House of Arras Brut Elite 1601 NV Tasmania

Winemaker Ed Carr’s notes

The House of Arras Brut Elite is made predominantly from a single vintage – in this case 2016. The wine’s exceptional complexity and consistent style is achieved through a portion of multi-vintage blending. The Cuvée Number, displayed on the label, identifies the predominant vintage and batch number.

GRAPE BLEND

Pinot Noir 57%, Chardonnay 35%, Pinot Meunier 8%

COLOUR

A delicate, medium straw yellow with a fine and persistent bead.

NOSE

Enticing and complex aromas of white stone fruit, layered with hints of gunflint, candle wax and oyster shell.

PALATE

The elegant style of Brut Elite is driven by the high portion of red fruits, creating the velvety texture and rich flavours. A seamless palate of sophistication and poise displaying secondary flavours of field mushroom and brioche that overlay the lychee fruit, that further builds complexity and persistence. The Pinot Meunier also adds the delicate, soft and luscious characters, with firm natural acidity providing a backbone for the longevity and vibrancy of this wine.

VINEYARD REGION

Tasmania (Derwent Valley, East Coast, Tamar Valley and Coal River Valley)

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

The majority of this wine was crafted from the 2016 vintage; a year of generous fruit set despite the exceeding dry conditions that persisted from spring through to the commencement of harvest. During harvest there were some significant rain events that increased the soil moisture. This reinvigorated the vine canopies allowing them to ripen the fruit to optimum balance and finesse.

WINEMAKING

All three varieties are hand harvested and upon reaching the winery, the fruit is bunch pressed with only the premium juice fractions selected for primary fermentation. A small portion of the wine is fermented in first and second use French oak (93% stainless steel and 7% oak), with 100% of the wine undergoing Malolactic Fermentation. The wine develops complexity and finesse with four years on its lees in bottle during its second fermentation in bottle.

DOSAGE:3.5 g/l

Alc/Vol: 12.5%

“It’s initially light on its feet, then dips before surging on the finish and aftertaste. Sophisticated and exhilerating.” 96pts James Halliday