Eight at the Gate Sparkling Shiraz NV

Eight at the Gate Sparkling Shiraz NV
$35, 13.5%, DIAM cork, Wrattonbully.

This wine is built on sweet, ripe fruit flavour but a peppermint character – which almost slides into choc-mint territory – adds real lift and life. Talk about drinkable. It’s soft, fruit-driven, has enough spread to the flavour profile to keep you engaged, and finishes dry. Along the way you find cardamon, plum and pink marshmallow flavours but really, who’s counting. This (sparkling red) wine has drinkability written all over it. 91 points.