SPARKLING WINE

I know, I know. Every year I urge you to consider including this classic Australian wine style in your Christmas drinking schedule. And, look, here I am again, tempting you with the latest vintage of Seppelt Show Shiraz, first made at Great Western in the 1890s: deep purple foaming in the glass, full of rich, dark aromas of squishy bramble berries and sweet soy, bold and chocolatey and super satisfying in the mouth. Is there a better wine match for roast turkey and glazed ham? I don’t think so.  MAX ALLEN

What a wonderful wine this is in the genre of sparkling red for Australia and generally as an iconic totem in Aus wine. I’ve been trying to buy a bunch of older releases of this wine from auction sites for fun, and when I am successful, pretty happy with myself.

Liquorice and tar, first up, then the stewed plum, dried cranberry, cherry cola going on. It’s got bright flavours under the char and game meat qualities, tight, fine bubbles that feel a little looser than expected but still vigorous enough to lift things. Very savoury release, this one. Good tannin profile under the fizz and tart acidity too. It’s a pretty darn good release, this. Feels sophisticated in its way. MIKE BENNIE, www.winefront.com.au