Charlie Melton uses the traditional Australian technique for their sparkling red, as pioneered by Seppelts at Great Western. The base wine is aged for around two years or so in oak and then tirage bottled and left on lees for up to four years. This gives a complex aromatic of fruit sweetness and classic autolysis character and fine bubble. An important factor is the liquering dosage as this degree of sweetness ensures they will develop for decades.
This 2002 Sparkling red was disgorged in August 2005 so has had a further 16 years in bottle. It is an incredible bottle of wine and still has decades to go! Rich black cherry and plum on the nose with a delightful charry element. It has a fine mousse with powerful red and black fruits. Spicy, dense with a beguiling sweetness. It has a tight, dense core of rich fruit. Off-dry and has fabulous intensity and complexity. Fabulous!