NV d'Arenberg Peppermint Paddock Sparkling Chambourcin 6 Pack

94 POINTS

Ned Goodwin - Halliday Wine Companion

I remember this wine as a nascent wine lover, the traditional chambourcin being joined by the more robust and Mediterranean-inclined graciano these days. No lack of punch, nor froth. Delicious in a carnal sort of way: rhubarb, amaro bitters, ground pepper, dill and sour black cherry, all succulent and savoury as a wonderful meld of poise and mindless joy. mouth-filling and mercifully, perceivably dry.

90 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

This is a non-vintage but it’s just come in, so I presume it’s either current or about to be. My experience with this wine is that its quality can be erratic – I didn’t, for instance, like the bottle I tasted last year – so you’d want to make sure you’re getting this release. Because this has been cleaned up and brightened considerably. It is in very good form. Bright purple to look at and full of purple/blue/red berried fruit flavours. Good form from go to whoa. Even a touch of tannin. I’d reckon this could even improve with (short to medium term) age.

James Halliday - Halliday Wine Companion

The best use for chambourcin? Juicy and vibrant with good flavour, depth, and thrust on the finish. Cork.

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

Australia’s most famous chambourcin, most probably, though it also includes shiraz and graciano nowadays. New packaging, including legible back label text, is an improvement. It’s a bit confronting at first but you’d have to say that this delivers a shedload of flavour. It’s confronting because it’s so ribald. It’s a blaze of red flavour, if that makes sense. It’s all redcurrant and red cherry, strawberry liqueur and red roses. It has volume of fruit, often missing in sparkling red. There are clips of vanilla cream and, dare I note it, peppermint too. It definitely sits in ‘you have to like this kind of thing’ territory.

Wine Spectator

Off-dry fizz has deep red color, and appealing grapey, spicy, slightly herbal flavors that linger modestly on the finish.

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Dense, impenetrable purple colour, typical of this grape variety. Rather smelly bouquet, very reductive and raw, also shrilly fruit-driven. Has a meaty character that is not very attractive. And it's the same in the mouth. It's never been a wine that appeals to me.