2016 Grand Reserve

colour

Rich straw and a fine bead.

aroma

Contrasting purity with subtle complexity, exemplified with minerality, wet slate and notes of oyster shell and fresh cashew.

palate

An intriguing palate of toasty brioche and malt biscuit, with hints of white mushroom, intertwining with fresh acidity and a fine bead to provide balance. 

cellaring

10–15 years.

vintage

2016

winemaking

Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, only the premium cuvée is retained for Grand Reserve. A small portion of the juice was fermented in seasoned French oak to elevate richness and texture in the final blend. This wine was matured on lees for 56 months.

region

Tasmania

varieties

Chardonnay
Pinot Noir

analysis

• Alcohol: 12.5%
• pH: 3.2
• Total Acidity: 7.9 g/L
• Dosage: 8.5 g/L

Tasmanian oysters with pickled samphire, cucumber and dill.

Australian Sparkling Wine Show 2022

Tyson Stelzer, Halliday Wine Companion 2023

60/40% pinot noir/chardonnay. A newcomer with a 3-digit price tag is a bold play and Lowestoft answers every reservation in its inaugural Grand Reserve. The fruit of a single, cool, coastal site on the Tasman Peninsula, this is an elegant and graceful cuvée of pale straw hue. At 6 years of age, primary, crunchy red apple and lemon fruit uphold impressive stamina, beautifully backed by the creamy texture and spicy, toasty allure of lees age. With plenty of endurance tucked into its folds, it will take a good few years in the cellar in its stride.

95

Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate 2023

The 2016 Grand Reserve Méthode Traditionelle sparkling is complex and riddled with autolytic complexity. It has notes of beeswax, cheesecloth, preserved citrus, field mushroom, autumnal undergrowth (i.e., damp leaves, forest floor, etc.), star anise, stewed apple and even a hint of fresh sourdough. This is a very good, very fine, powerful wine. Balanced.

94