94 POINTS HALLIDAY! OUTSTANDING ADELAIDE HILLS SPARKLING CHARDONNAY FOR JUST $31!

94 Points – James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion | 95 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine 2022

Bleasdale Blanc de Blancs NV – Adelaide Hills, South Australia

RRP $31 per bottle

A beautifully made, 94-point Australian Blanc de Blancs for just $31? This is exactly the sort of wine that gets us excited at Liquid Vibe!

Forget the idea that you need to spend $70, $100 or more to enjoy outstanding sparkling wine.

Bleasdale Blanc de Blancs is an absolute beauty.

Fresh.

Elegant.

Beautifully textured.

And packed with the delicious flavours of cool-climate Adelaide Hills Chardonnay.

Think crisp Granny Smith apples, fresh lemon, delicate stone fruit and subtle almond biscotti.

There is a wonderful creamy texture, beautifully refreshing acidity and a deliciously persistent finish.

94 POINTS HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION!

95 POINTS WINE SHOWCASE MAGAZINE!

And the price?

JUST $31 A BOTTLE!

This is the sort of wine you should be buying by the six-pack or dozen.

Perfect for Christmas.

Magnificent for summer entertaining.

Brilliant with seafood.

And an absolute beauty whenever you feel like opening a delicious bottle of sparkling wine.

At $31, this is one of Australia's great-value sparkling Chardonnay discoveries.

Bleasdale – Over 175 Years of Australian Winemaking History

Established in 1850 by Frank Potts, Bleasdale is one of Australia's most historic family-owned wineries.

Located in Langhorne Creek, South Australia, the estate has played an important role in the development of Australian wine for more than 175 years.

And what an extraordinary reputation it has established.

Bleasdale is particularly celebrated for its Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.

But its commitment to quality extends well beyond its famous red wines.

The winery has also developed an impressive reputation for producing beautifully balanced, outstanding-value wines from cool-climate vineyards.

In 2024, Bleasdale was named Winery of the Year by Halliday Wine Companion.

A remarkable achievement for a winery with such a distinguished history.

And this Blanc de Blancs demonstrates exactly why Bleasdale deserves so much attention.

A beautifully made sparkling Chardonnay that delivers remarkable quality without an extravagant price tag.

Adelaide Hills – One of Australia's Great Chardonnay Regions

Although Bleasdale is based in Langhorne Creek, the Chardonnay for its Blanc de Blancs comes from the Adelaide Hills.

And that is particularly important.

The Adelaide Hills is one of Australia's finest cool-climate wine regions.

Its elevated vineyards, cooler growing conditions and diverse soils create ideal conditions for producing Chardonnay with beautiful natural acidity and aromatic complexity.

Bleasdale sources fruit from vineyards around Lobethal and Kuitpo.

These two areas contribute freshness, fruit purity and texture.

The resulting wine combines crisp citrus and apple flavours with beautiful depth and complexity.

This is exactly what makes Adelaide Hills Chardonnay such an exciting foundation for exceptional sparkling wine.

100% Chardonnay – The Elegance of Blanc de Blancs

Blanc de Blancs translates to white from whites.

In this case, the wine is produced entirely from Chardonnay.

And that is fundamental to its personality.

Chardonnay contributes elegance.

Freshness.

Delicate citrus flavours.

And beautifully precise acidity.

But great sparkling Chardonnay can also develop wonderful texture and complexity.

And Bleasdale has achieved exactly that.

There is the crisp freshness you expect from cool-climate Chardonnay.

But also a lovely creamy character and delicate nutty complexity.

The result is a sparkling wine that is beautifully refreshing yet surprisingly sophisticated.

A Fascinating Multi-Vintage Blend

One of the most interesting aspects of Bleasdale Blanc de Blancs is its multi-vintage construction.

The winery's published technical information describes a blend of Chardonnay from the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 harvests.

This approach allows the winemaking team to combine different characteristics from individual growing seasons.

Younger fruit contributes freshness and vibrancy.

Older components bring additional complexity and texture.

The result is a beautifully integrated sparkling wine with far more interest than you might expect at this price.

A thoughtful approach to blending that delivers both freshness and complexity.

Wild Yeast Fermentation and French Oak Maturation

This is where Bleasdale Blanc de Blancs becomes particularly interesting.

Rather than relying solely on straightforward tank fermentation, Bleasdale uses techniques normally associated with serious still Chardonnay.

The fruit is pressed with some oxidative handling before fermentation.

Fermentation takes place using naturally occurring yeasts on full juice solids.

A combination of stainless-steel tanks and seasoned French oak puncheons is used.

The oak components undergo spontaneous malolactic fermentation.

Regular lees stirring helps build texture and complexity.

The resulting base wines are blended to create a beautifully balanced sparkling Chardonnay.

This is remarkably thoughtful winemaking for a wine retailing at just $31.

The important distinction is that this is not a traditional-method, bottle-fermented sparkling wine.

Its complexity comes from the quality of the Chardonnay, the use of different vintages, oak maturation and careful lees handling.

And the result is absolutely delicious.

Granny Smith Apple, Lemon Zest and Almond Biscotti

Pour a glass and the appeal is immediate.

The colour is bright and inviting.

The aromas are beautifully fresh.

Think crisp green apple.

Fresh lemon.

White peach.

Delicate citrus blossom.

And subtle toasted-almond complexity.

There is a lovely sense of purity and freshness.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully balanced.

The natural acidity provides a refreshing backbone.

The Chardonnay delivers elegant fruit.

And the lees contact contributes a gentle creamy texture.

The finish is crisp, harmonious and wonderfully moreish.

A sparkling wine that combines freshness, elegance and delicious drinking appeal.

94 Points – James Halliday

94 points and a Special Value Star for a sparkling wine costing just $31 is a remarkable achievement.

95 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine

This is sparkling Chardonnay that delivers serious drinking pleasure without a serious price tag.

The Perfect Wine for Christmas and Summer Entertaining

There is something particularly appealing about a beautifully chilled glass of sparkling Chardonnay on a warm Australian summer's day.

And Bleasdale Blanc de Blancs is absolutely perfect for the occasion.

Its refreshing acidity and elegant fruit make it a magnificent aperitif.

But it is also a wonderfully versatile food wine.

Fresh Oysters

The crisp citrus and apple flavours provide a refreshing contrast to the natural salinity of oysters.

Prawns and Seafood

Beautiful with fresh prawns, calamari, scallops and delicate white fish.

Christmas Entertaining

An outstanding wine to serve when friends and family arrive.

Soft Cheese

The winery recommends double Brie, a particularly delicious match for the wine's creamy texture and refreshing acidity.

Summer Lunches

Perfect with salads, grilled seafood and roast chicken.

And of course, it is absolutely delicious on its own.

Serve well chilled at approximately 8–10°C and enjoy!

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are constantly searching for wines that deliver extraordinary quality for the money.

And Bleasdale Blanc de Blancs is exactly the sort of wine we love recommending.

First, there is the history.

Bleasdale – established in 1850.

Then there is the region.

Adelaide Hills – one of Australia's great cool-climate Chardonnay regions.

Then there is the fruit.

100% Chardonnay from Lobethal and Kuitpo.

Then there is the winemaking.

Wild yeast fermentation.

French oak maturation.

Lees stirring.

And thoughtful multi-vintage blending.

Then there are the accolades.

94 POINTS JAMES HALLIDAY!

95 POINTS WINE SHOWCASE MAGAZINE!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $31 A BOTTLE!

This is a wine that deserves to be enjoyed regularly.

Not just at weddings.

Not just on birthdays.

And not just at Christmas.

It is a wine to open when friends arrive.

A wine to enjoy with fresh seafood.

And a wine to keep chilled throughout the warmer months.

If you love beautifully fresh Chardonnay, elegant Australian sparkling wine or simply outstanding value, this is a bottle you absolutely need to try.

And at this price, we would strongly recommend having more than one in the fridge.

94 POINTS HALLIDAY. 95 POINTS WINE SHOWCASE. ADELAIDE HILLS CHARDONNAY. JUST $31.

Bleasdale Blanc de Blancs is a magnificent Australian sparkling wine bargain – and one we are delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Bleasdale Vineyards

• Wine: Blanc de Blancs

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia

• Winery Location: Langhorne Creek, South Australia

• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

• Vineyard Sources: Lobethal and Kuitpo

• Blend: Multi-vintage Chardonnay

• Winemaking: Oxidative pressing, ambient yeast fermentation on full juice solids

• Fermentation Vessels: Stainless-steel tanks and seasoned French oak puncheons

• Malolactic Fermentation: Spontaneous in oak

• Maturation: Lees contact and stirring, with a combination of tank and seasoned French oak

• Sparkling Method: Not traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Alcohol: 12%

• Critic Scores: 94 Points Halliday Wine Companion | 95 Points Wine Showcase Magazine 2022

• Additional Recognition: Halliday Special Value Star

• RRP: $31 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, prawns, scallops, grilled fish, double Brie and roast chicken

• Serving Temperature: 8–10°C

• Cellaring: Best enjoyed young for its freshness and fruit character