Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Arras — Blanc de Blancs 2013
Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A 100% Chardonnay traditional-method sparkling wine sourced broadly across Tasmania, aged extensively on lees for over five years prior to release, delivering depth, autolytic complexity, and finely tuned balance. Cool-climate fruit precision meets long cellar maturation for serious Champagne-caliber structure and finesse.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of toasted brioche, lemon curd, baked apple, almond pastry, and subtle chalky minerality lead the nose. Layers of fresh citrus peel, pear skin, and gentle hazelnut evolve with air, framed by savory yeast complexity and restrained creaminess. The palate delivers precision rather than sweetness, with purity and tension driving the finish.

Mouthfeel
Creamy yet lifted, with fine, persistent mousse and beautifully integrated autolytic weight. The texture feels polished and expansive without heaviness, supported by vibrant acidity that keeps the wine energetic, linear, and refreshingly dry through the finish.

Food Pairings
Oysters and shellfish. Butter-poached lobster or scallops. Parmesan risotto. Roast chicken with herbs. Triple-cream cheeses or aged Comté.

Verdict
A compelling expression of New World traditional-method excellence, delivering maturity, balance, and serious structural integrity. Rich without excess, nostalgic in its yeast-driven complexity, and confidently positioned alongside high-quality grower Champagne.

Did You Know?
Tasmania’s cool maritime climate and long growing season allow Chardonnay to retain high natural acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness, making the region one of Australia’s strongest candidates for world-class traditional-method sparkling wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
Blanc de Blancs is my home base, and this bottle absolutely delivers. The autolytic depth, precision, and balance hit exactly the profile I love, serious, expressive, and quietly luxurious. A sparkling wine that rewards attention, not just celebration. — 4 months ago

Yuri

9.0

Happy new year!! 🎍Started from Denshu😎 Kanpai🥂 — 5 years ago

Monte

9.5

Live this delicious smoky, bold and tobacco driven cab...I’ll look for a case! Terrific Thanksgiving Dinner addition. — 5 years ago

Norman

9.0

This was all part of our Sake Day 2025 experience. We only tasted 60ish sakes out of an estimated 450, so a small fraction of what was available. While I attempted to rinse the glass with water and stay hydrated it’s difficult to fairly rate in this environment and I use it solely as a time to try a wide variety and interact with the brands. — 8 months ago

Daniel Sullivan

9.5

F-Ing wonderful!
Very nostalgic for me.
Honeysuckle on nose.
Ripping acid with light effervescence. — 3 years ago

Riccardo L.

9.1

Nostalgic. What a wine, 10 years is prime. Lfggggggggg Italia (vs Austria 2021 euro). — 5 years ago

Aurore

9.0

Not too fruity not too dry. Perfect today for aperitif — 5 years ago

Dave

9.6

I have bought every bottle of this I've seen in the last 9 years or so. Purely nostalgic reasons. It's not the best Super Tuscan. It's not expensive. But, it just reminds me of every meal I had during my time in Tuscany. Somehow the price jumped from $20 to $30. I blame Trump. Every year has been pretty consistent, but 2013 was world-class. This 2020 is great, and if it weren't hailing out right now, I'd go grab some steaks from the market. Cheers, friends!
Listening to the Pogues. — 10 months ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

Without sounding too nostalgic, or bitter, I remember drinking these when Lapierre, Sr. Made them, & for under 16$. They always had a seriousness & rather proper backbone, at least by Beaujolais standards. At 3+ yrs, this was very approachable & starting to fill in its darker, more brooding character. Dark cherries, black currants. At almost 40$ now, it really is built for a longer haul. Would be worth a 5 yr check in. — 5 years ago

with Owen

Lyndsey Wegner

9.0

I started drinking this Viognier about 10 years ago and it brings back all the memories! It tastes much sweeter now than it did then (when I drank Moscato on the regular) but it's still pleasant and enjoyable. Lots of peach and honeysuckle on the nose, on the palate more stone fruit, pear, and some tropical fruit like mango and pineapple, low acid and a nice fruity finish that dissipates quickly. It's nostalgic for me and I sure do like taking that trip down memory lane! — 6 years ago