Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red, McLaren Vale

To create the JOSEPH Sparkling Red a hogshead of the ultra premium JOSEPH Moda Cabernet Merlot from every year since 1991 and Primo Estate Shiraz from 1989 is added to a unique blend of museum vintages from the past 40 years. A tirage is completed only every 18-24 months, ensuring the base wine retains it’s unique character derived from the aged wines in the blend. After traditional fermentation in the bottle, the JOSEPH Sparkling Red disgorgement is rested on yeast lees for 18 months before hand disgorgement. It was liqueured carefully with a blend of aged Australian fortified wines to ensure a savoury style with perfect balance.

Every year a hogshead of Moda Cabernet Merlot is added to, a tirage every 18-24 months, the solera dating back to the '60s and '70s. It is full to the brim with dark fruits, spice, tobacco and biter chocolate, the minimal dosage exactly as it should be. An institution in its super-long bottle.

96 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au