House of Arras Brut Elite

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant. The Australian winery House of Arras is located in Tasmania and is led by Ed Carr, a renowned and award-winning winemaker, who started this project in the mid-1990s to produce sparkling wines of excellent quality that could compete with French Champagne. The winery sources grapes from various Tasmanian wine districts, including the Tamar Valley, Pipers River, Coal River Valley, and Huon Valley. This diverse range of soils and climates interacts to create elegant and balanced wines. But the winemaker's signature comes in the long tirage period, which adds complexity and density to House of Arras wines. The Brut Elite is a blend of mostly Pinot Noir, with smaller amounts of Chardonnay, and tiny percentages of Pinot Meunier. Ed Carr uses a single vintage, primarily with a small addition of a multi-vintage blend to maintain stylistic consistency. The wine spends four years on the lees. In the glass, the Brut Elite reveals a pale golden color with silvery-green highlights. Its aromatic profile is broad and seductive, with notes of white fruit, lychee, and citrus, followed by mineral and brioche hints. On the palate, it is velvety and fresh, lively and elegant, with a creamy texture and a refreshing acidity. The finish is long and persistent. It pairs deliciously with oysters and sushi.