Brown Brothers Patricia Brut Pinot Noir/Chardonnay 2005: seasonal wine of the day

If you like your fizz deep and complex but with plenty of backbone, Australian sparkling wine Brown Brothers Patricia Brut might just be for you.  I’ve tasted it several times this year  and it has consistently impressed, including at the Landmark Tutorial (see here for the hallowed line up).  So did the junior Brown Brothers fizz, but for the festive period, it’s got to be the Patricia!

Brown Brothers Patricia Brut Pinot Noir/Chardonnay 2005 (King Valley) – this, Brown Brothers flagship sparkler, comes from an elevated vineyard (+ 800m).  It sees no sulphur prior to ferment which, as our Landmark tutor Edd Carr pointed out, produces a slightly aldehyldic style with a touch of marmite which appealed to me.  Lots of complexity here on nose and palate with lovely persistence and weight; a classy, very fine bead too.  Creamy/tangy through the mid palate (malo), with juicy nougat-edged bruised apple, its mouthwatering lemon and mineral undertow accounts for a long, clean, crisp finish.  Very good.  It costs £21.99 at Christopher Piper Wines