These are not wines to intellectualise over, but bottles destined to be opened and shared with abandon. Available across the land in every supermarket and most Bottle O’s, often cheaper on promo, you could say that they democratise wine. Cheers to that.
NV Brown Brothers King Valley Prosecco
Rating Excellent
Fresh & bright, peach,
white flowers, a touch
of nuttiness. A burst of
fruit in the mouth, fruit
sweet yet nicely crisp
and dry on the close.
Touches of stonefruit,
a wisp of orange/
mandarin peel adds an
engaging counterpoint
to the fruit sweetness,
with good mousse.
Really hits the
refreshment factor.
The nose and palate
open out with air, great
bang for buck here.
NV Jacob’s Creek Reserve Prosecco
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Perfumed, hints of
musk, shifting to
nuttiness and pear as
it takes on air. The fruit
bursts out of the glass,
stonefruits setting the
pace with gum and an
underlying sense of
coolness. Softer
mousse with the nutty
nuances carrying
through to the palate
with time. I could see
"evaporation"
happening quickly
here as this is very
easy drinking.
NV Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Musk overlaid on a lightly
honeyed aspect, perfume,
flower petal. A whisper
more fruit sweetness here,
apple, stonefruits, a touch
of honey and a grapey
quality. With aeration,
pea pod, chopped herb
& grassiness reveals
itself, a waft of
baguette/breadiness
also on the palate.
Typical Sav Blanc
zestiness more evident
with time, giving nice
freshness.
NV Brown Brothers Prosecco Rosé
Rating Very Good to Excellent
A bowl of red berries,
strawberries and
cream, flirts with a
savoury nuance
alongside bready/
yeasty notes, fleshing
out nicely in the glass.
The palate offers some
hard candy notes
giving a perception of
light sweetness but
there’s excellent
zestiness that keeps it
nicely balanced. A light
touch of sweetness
mid-palate but closes
dry.
NV Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Freshly cut grapes,
perfume, honey, a
wisp of rose petal. The
palate continues the
journey, and just what
you’d expect of the
variety. Fresh grapes
with a smear of honey
and they’ve got the
balance right. The
grape and honey notes
linger in the mouth,
good flavour depth,
closing crisp & bright.
Well made and would
be a lovely gateway for
people getting into
wine.
2022 Brown Brothers Light & Refreshing Moscato
Rating Very Good
Fruit cordial, grapiness, a
schisty note, dry honey
coming through. Brimming
with flavour though the
sweetness is very
evident, sweet & grapey.
They’ve retained the
natural grape sugars
here: this is a low 5.5%
alc; a great option for
those looking for a lower
alc drink. Soft and
supple, intensely sweet
and honeyed and will
charm those that revel
in sweetness.
