2011 Pirie Late Disgorged Sparkling, Tasmania

Bright, fresh and zippy. Fresh lemon. Cracked wheat. Gorgeous brioche flavours. I love the length and energy of this wine.

97 points Toni Paterson MW Global Fine Wine Challenge Wine of Show Medal

This is a pale gold in colour. The nose is so appealing – nuts, brioche, peaches and cream, toast and apricot kernels. The palate is soft and complex, with a creamy texture. Notes of lemon curd and freshly baked lemon meringue pie emerge. Underneath, there is bright acidity. A sparkling wine of great length with the balance and intensity maintained the full length. One of the great Aussie sparklers. This will drink magnificently for many years.

97 points Ken Gargett winepilot.com

A blend of 52/48% chardonnay/pinot noir from the White Hills vineyard in northern Tasmania. Aged for 10 years on lees before disgorgement in 2022. Made by Tom Wallace. Light straw with a fine, energetic bead and mousse. Aromas of green apple, citrus fruits and redcurrants with underlying hints of fresh brioche, soft spice, oyster shell, tarte tartin, white flowers, pastry shop and crushed stone. A picture of precision with a racy cadence and plenty of tension gently pulling in the expansive biscuity autolysis characters, finishing long and pure with a lovely mineral focus.

96 points Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

2011 Pirie Late Disgorged Sparkling from Tasmania is a magnificent example of cool-climate Australian sparkling wine at its absolute best — a wine that has earned acclaim as one of the country’s most celebrated vintage releases. Crafted by the Pirie team with fruit sourced from the pristine vineyards of northern Tasmania, it embodies precision, patience, and mastery of the méthode traditionnelle. Its extended lees ageing of more than a decade gives it remarkable depth and complexity, while retaining the pristine acidity and energy that define Tasmanian sparkling.

The blend is a classic combination of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, drawn from vineyards around Pipers River and the Tamar Valley, where the maritime influence and long, cool growing season deliver fruit of exceptional balance and purity. After secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine was aged on lees for over 10 years before disgorgement, developing fine mousse, creamy texture, and layers of autolytic complexity.

In the glass it shows a shimmering pale gold hue with a fine, persistent bead. The aroma is exquisite — a symphony of lemon curd, white peach, and toasted brioche, with notes of almond, hazelnut, and sea spray. The palate is rich yet taut, revealing citrus and stone fruit framed by vibrant acidity and a touch of salinity. Layers of biscuit, honey, and chalky minerality unfold through an exceptionally long, precise finish. Every detail feels refined and harmonious — this is Tasmanian sparkling at the height of its powers.

It pairs beautifully with oysters, lobster, roast chicken, or creamy mushroom dishes, and it’s equally at home as a celebratory glass on its own. While utterly captivating now, it will continue to evolve for another decade, gaining subtle notes of honey, truffle, and toasted nuts.

A major trophy winner across Australian wine shows, the 2011 Pirie Late Disgorged has been hailed by critics as one of the finest late-disgorged sparkling wines ever produced in Australia — a wine that rivals top cuvées from Champagne in both complexity and finesse.