Peter Lehmann 'Black Queen' Sparkling Shiraz 2017
Peter Lehmann's 'Black Queen' Sparkling Shiraz is one of Australia's unique contributions to the wine world. Named after the Queen of Sheba this sparkling wine was inspired by the groundbreaking 'Sparkling Burgundy’ of the 1950s. Peter Lehmann Wines works with over 140 growers across the length and breadth of the Barossa Valley region, with access to over 750 individual vineyard sites. The Black Queen is made from Shiraz grown on old, low-yielding vines in premium vineyards in the Nuriootpa, Light Pass and Ebenezer districts of the Barossa Valley. The grapes were fermented on skins for 7-10 days, before being pressed and clarified. The wine was then matured for 12 months in older French oak hogsheads. The base wine was then bottle-fermented and aged on its yeast lees for five years. After disgorgement, a small percentage of fortified Shiraz was added to build complexity and add natural sweetness before release. Bright red with a dense black core, this wine has concentrated aromas of plum, blackberry and dark chocolate. The palate is quintessentially 'Black Queen', with a gentle mousse, naturally low in tannins, soft and abundant in rich blue fruit flavours and a Christmas cake finish. Best enjoyed now, however, will comfortably develop further in the cellar for a further 5-10 years
