Howard Park Jeté Premier Brut NV

It has toasty complexity, as in some toasted brioche with butter, and all the refreshing flavours of lemon and zest with spine-tingling acidity. Plenty of creamy mousse, fine bead and enough class to serve at a fancy dinner party or enjoy in the backyard simply because you can.

Medium yellow, bright colour. Complex smoky, toasty and rubbery notes with roasted hazelnut chiming in. It’s rich and full in the mouth, soft and balanced, superbly harmonious and long, with beautiful texture and completeness. Absolutely nails a serious but accessible NV style.

This excellent sparkling wine made from South-West chardonnay provides a perfect illustration of how successful Howard Park’s investment in sparkling wine has been. This is a complete wine that retains a freshness and purity. It was aged in French oak before bottling and was then left on its lees for 24 months, allowing the palate flavours and richness to develop. Excellent wine.

Light lemon gold colour with plentiful fast moving bubbles. Meringue, sea spray, warm apple, light grapefruit and lemon citrus, frangipane blossom, stone fruit skin and light brioche. Tight, fine and playful. An easy structure with super clean lines and a soft, pillowy mousse. A well balanced aperitif style.

Mid-yellow colour, with a pungent, richly mellow-developed bouquet with attractive complexity due in part to aged wine in the blend. Toasted bread, roasted nuts. The finish is dry and clean, low in sweetness and refreshing on the aftertaste. This has length, too.

A creamy, nicely complex sparkling with aromas of pears, apples, pastries, honey and praline. Fine, integrated bubbles and bright acidity. All in balance.

Vibrant mousse and persistent bead, looks the goods in the glass. Lifted, fragrant aromas of just-ripe stone fruit, lemon rind and toast. Flavours are rich and focused, toasty brioche, citrus and a creamy mouth-feel, smart length, dry and complex.

Aromas of ripe lemon, lemon zest, white peach skin, wet rock, seaspray, seaweed, and sourdough make for a complex opening. The palate has a good architectural appeal, showing a backbone of Pinot Noir influence. Strawberry, pink grapefruit, preserved lemon, with toastiness in support. All of this before a structural finish carrying the preserved lemon bitterness long. This punches above its price point thanks to solid complexity, structure and length.

Fortunately, here in Australia, we’re blessed with high quality sparkling wines that offer much better value. And there are plenty to choose from. At my place, guests are often treated to Howard Park Jeté sparkling, which sells for around $40 a bottle. I love its creamy citrus and bakery notes, and the racy acidity that leaves a crisp Granny Smith finish.