It's eminently refined... Another absolute triumph.
Tyson Stelzer (Halliday Wine Companion)
About the Wine
If you're looking for a sparkling wine which will impress everyone, Bellebonne is wine for you. It's a small boutique operation, so points for those who aim for obscurity, but it is also delivers on quality. And then some. We are absolutely smitten with it.
Made entirely from Pinot Noir and in a rose style, it is surprisingly bold and complex for its relative youth. Pale pink colour, with some rose petals, cranberry and toasty croissant coming through on the nose. The palate is deep and long, defined by a gentle mousse, and with some typical Pinot flavours coming through - berries and spices, fresh herbs and a generous pastry element. Beautiful wine.
About Bellebonne
Beautiful and good (Belle et Bonne in French), just like Tasmania, is the passion project of Natalie Fryar, who established herself as one of Australias leading makers of sparkling wines over her 14 years at Jansz.
Produced in miniscule quantities with fruit from the Pipers River region, Bellebonne cuvées are made from tiny pockets of independent growers’ vines.
This region is ideal for sparkling, in Natalie’s own words; “Our latitude is critical. We are right in the sweet spot geographically for the perfect combination of terroir... The island’s maritime climate provides a frost free environment, there's the long, cool, even growing seasons and the cold nights, and importantly, a high incidence of cloud cover providing a low UV or ultraviolet radiation. This all ensures the grape skins remain thin and translucent, with high acid ratio…so important for quality sparkling wines.”.
Her first release from the 2015 vintage garnered instant accolades, and Natalie was dubbed the ‘Rose Queen’ by Australia’s pre-eminent sparkling wine critic, Tyson Stelzer.

Pipers River, Tasmania