Eminence The Assembly Blanc de Blancs 2022

Grown at 841 metres – Victoria’s highest vineyard – this 100% Chardonnay is elevated in every sense. Beautifully fragrant, the aromas feel almost meticulously arranged in their purity and delineation: lemon, apple strudel, white flowers and ginger, with hints of Victoria plum and cherry.

Fine and silky on the palate, the mousse is soft yet exuberant, woven through with a firm seam of acidity. That brightness initially masks the wine’s depth, but a few gentle swirls reveal layers of white peach, citrus, brioche, fresh apple and orange zest, all held in tension by mineral drive, subtle tannin and a saline twist. Serious, structured and playful in equal measure, it’s as contemplative as you want it to be. Utterly convincing and unforced – one of the finest sparkling Chardonnays at this price point, and well beyond, in Australia.