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

Dan Chavasse

9.2

Drinking well and will be even better in 2 years. Lovely wine,fantastic value and passionate owners — 10 years ago

Joe L.

9.2

Crushable, NV sparkling rose from Tasmania. Pinot noir-forward notes with clean finish and fresh red fruit bouquet. Drank to toast last day of job. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Tuesday the 26th of January was Australia Day and a public holiday. What better way to celebrate than Australia’s best fizz Arras Grand Vintage from Tasmania. Quite light lemon in colour. Very citrussy and mineral on the nose. 7 years on Lees showing in the complexity of the palate which still shows tension and refreshment. See previous notes for the 2007 which was slightly better and Champion Wine of the Royal Brisbane Show. — 5 years ago

Benjamin Hickey

9.5

No new oak, very soft. From arras vineyard. — 9 years ago

Peter Scudamore-Smith MW

9.4

Avoca -based maker Blue Pyrenees had a major triumph with this wine in a European fizz comp headed by Tom Stevenson; linear chardonnay with subtle yeast and contrite lemon length; unusual for a blanc de blancs to outscore the usual bigger pinot wines of Arras and Chandon; property estab 1963 by original Krug owners; picked under floodlight at night to achieve the higher night flow in acidity; AUD 35; 12%; expect long life in wine like this; exceptional flavour, few artifacts. — 11 years ago

Erika Turner

9.1

2005 was on the edge. This is a bit brighter but still has the deep brioche toast — 4 years ago

with See and Rubychick

Stuart Gregor

9.3

Superb best Aussie sparkling — 6 years ago

Philip Faure

9.1

Lovely and creamy — 9 years ago

Heath Bradby

9.3

Very very tasty — 10 years ago