Hanging Rock, Macedon Cuvee Brut X11 NV

There aren’t a lot of Australian made sparkling whites that rival those of the Champagne region in France, but the Hanging Rock Macedon Cuvée XII is certainly one such creature. Being from outside the famous French appellation, we can’t refer to it as “champagne”, but the rich characters, creamy texture and lingering yeastiness bear all the hallmarks of its more esteemed foreign cousin. Cleverly crafted, the Macedon combines a range of vintages which have been aged on lees in old French barriques for at least two years, and the winemaker’s patience has paid off, as the result is a sparkling wine of full flavour and length, and a balanced crisp finale.

It’s not cheap at $49.00 a bottle, but definitely one of the best Australian sparklings I’ve had the pleasure to try.