92 pts James Halliday
The best-selling sparkling red in Australia. Based on the cool ’11 season, it’s alive with pretty violet lift and lovely plum, rhubarb and black pepper fruit flavours, backed with dark chocolate oak. Classic Langhorne Creek shiraz with refined restraint, low alcohol, finely textured tannins and good persistence.

90 pts Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Sept 2011 (JR)
Vivid ruby. Fresh raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by spices and flowers, picking up a peppery quality with air. Nervy, focused and spicy, offering bright red berry and cherry skin flavors and a touch of candied rose. The finish is nicely brisk and focused, with a peppery note adding cut to the sweet red fruit. I’d serve this at the end of a meal, with cheeses.

89 pts Robert Parker, Jr.’s The wine Advocate #173
Bleasdale makes an excellent Non-Vintage Sparkling Shiraz called The Red Brute. The wine has lively effervescence, an attractive currant and blueberry scented nose, and a lively palate feel. It, too, is an excellent value. Drink it with cheesecake at the end of a meal or as an aperitif.

87 pts Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar 2007
Deep ruby. Smoky blackberry and blueberry aromas verge on jammy. Soft and fleshy, with sweet dark berry flavors, subtle spicy qualities and a clinging finish. Simple but fresh and tasty.

Best wines of 2007
Sparkling Shiraz deserves a feature position on your party drinks list, and this year we have tracked down one of the best at a teeny price (and even less at cellar door, www.bleasdale.com.au). We popped dozens of bottles of black fizz, and this one strutted it way straight to the front of the pack because it looks, smells and tastes a lot more expensive than it is. It’s choc full of black forest gâteau and dripping with inky mulberry juice, with a lick of sweetness that kicks in at just the right moment on the finish. For full detail and stockists, see page 91 of Taste Food & Wine 2007