Best's 2017 Sparkling Shiraz (Great Western)

Best's makes one of the strongest examples of this uniquely Aussie style, which has been a part of Aussie wine since 1881. There's a pleasant lift of sweet, plump plum and berry fruit, with gentler notes of chocolate and savory spice. The bubbles almost take you by surprise. They're vigorous when first poured but quickly settle. There's some fruit sweetness and alcohol warmth, with smudged charcoal tannins. Full bodied yet bubbly, this wine is made for wintertime holidays, but chill it down and you could also sip it with a summer barbecue. Christina Pickard