Peter Lehmann Masters, `Black Queen` Barossa Valley Sparkling Shiraz, 2018

Bright red with a dense black core, this wine has concentrated aromas of plum, blackberry and dark chocolate with a hint of fennel. The palate is quintessentially 'Black Queen', with a gentle mousse, naturally low in tannins, soft and abundant in rich blue fruit flavours and a Christmas cake finish. Best enjoyed now, however, will comfortably develop further in the cellar for a further 10-12 years.

The Black Queen is made from Shiraz grown on old, low-yielding vines in premium vineyards in the Light Pass and Stonewell districts of the Barossa Valley. These parcels were both chosen for their high fruit concentration and balanced tannin levels, typical characteristics of their districts.

The grapes were fermented on skins for 7-10 days, before being pressed and clarified. The wine was then aged for 12 months in older French oak hogsheads. The base wine was then bottle-fermented and aged on its yeast lees for four years. After disgorgement, a small percentage of fortified Shiraz was added to build complexity and add natural sweetness before release.

Country: Australia 

Region: Barossa 

Vintage: 2016

Grape Variety: Shiraz

ABV: 14%

Size: 750ml 

Producer: Peter Lehmann