Description
Terre à Terre Wines (meaning ‘Down to Earth’) are Xavier Bizot (son of the late Christian Bizot of Bollinger fame) and wife Lucy Croser (daughter of Brian and Ann Croser.
The Bizot vineyard, one of the highest altitude vineyards at 550m in the heart of the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills, was planted by Christian Bizot in 1995/1996 with various Chardonnay clones on the expert advice of Lucy’s father Brian Croser from Petaluma. The Bizot Vineyard – red clay and sandy loams over a 70 million-year-old shale rock formation – was leased to Petaluma for the Croser sparkling label. However in 2009, the fruit from the higher part of the vineyard was retained for the first time by Terre à Terre in order to produce a Single Vineyard Blanc de Blancs names DAOSA ((Dedicated Artisans of South Australia).
DAOSA is made following the Méthode Traditionnelle, (Method ClassicTM ), the method used in the Champagne region of France. The DAOSA Blanc de Blancs 2018 has spent more than 4 years on lees in total, in barrel and in bottle.
The Bizot vineyard is located in Summertown, in the heart of Piccadilly Valley subregion in the Adelaide Hills, and is one of the highest vineyards in the valley at 550m altitude. It was planted by Petaluma in 1995/1996 for DAOSA with Chardonnay. It was planted with several clones, including French “Burgundy” clones 76, 95 and 96. It is also one of the first Australian vineyards to have been planted using rootstocks in part of the vineyard. The soil is red clay and sandy loams over a 70 million year old shale rock formation. The Chardonnay is planted on a north-north east facing slope, at a relatively high density of 3,200 vines per hectare.
The climate in the Piccadilly Valley has a long-term average of 1,172 degree days during the growing season. Yearly rainfall is approximately 1,100mm. The 2018 vintage was much warmer than average at 1,513 degree days with close to average rainfall (86% of average rainfall during the ripening season). Chardonnay fruit quality at harvest was superb with great balance of flavours and acidity.
“This is the eighth vintage of our single vineyard Blanc de Blancs from our Chardonnay vineyard in Summertown on the higher slopes of the Piccadilly Valley. This wine is made following the principles of our Method ClassicTM. It is a pure expression of sparkling Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay with ripe stone fruit characters, fine bead, texture and long finish. DAOSA Blanc de Blancs is recognised as one of the top Australian sparkling wines.” Winemaker notes.
This extraordinary wine recently replaced Krug by the pour at Bennelong restaurant.. Pedigree and oodles of sophistication here…
95 points, Ned Goodwin, Halliday’s Wine Companion ““Xavier Bizot is well-versed in building texture via barrel fermentation and extended time on lees. Old oak, mind you, where the wine sits for nine months following the first fermentation. Scents of glazed quince, citrus marmalade, shiitake, oak-derived acacia, almond meal and toasted brioche. A wine of indelible precision as much as latent power, building across a long finish draped with some perceivable sweetness.”
95 points, Jeni Port, Wine Pilot “A contrasting year and style to the previous 2017 vintage release which reinforces our understanding of what a vintage sparkling wine is and should deliver. We expect vintage variation or otherwise what’s the point? Here, you have it. The excellent 2017 DAOSA hailed from a cooler, wetter year. The 2018 vintage was warmer, drier and the result is a generous mouthful of flavour, one beautifully countered by Piccadilly Valley’s tangy acid drive. The singular integrity of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is on display here so is, too, the kind of complexity achieved by more than four years on lees. It’s a powerful alchemy. An arresting, inviting bouquet awaits in white flowers, lemon-citrus, peach, apple, light confection notes and almond. Extended time on lees offers a powerful centrepiece to the wine of layered biscuit, brioche and sweet almond nougat amid white summer fruits enhanced by Hills’ über-fresh, riveting acidity. Captures the year succinctly while remaining true to the elegance we associate with DAOSA blanc de blancs. Precision all the way.”
94 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front ““Excellent release. It exhibits both finesse and flavour. Sweet pastries and strawberries, citrus and nectarine, elements of peach and biscuits. It feels bot soft and sophisticated, and it has length. This is right up there”
RRP $98 **OUR SPECIAL PRICE when you buy 6 or more $83.99**
