If you can imagine a world where Dom Perignon and Lily Bollinger had a lovechild that kid would be Ed Carr.
There is no more significant figure in the elevation of Australian Sparkling that Carr, and this limited release of 1566 bottles is appropriate recognition of his career.
There’s a richness and seemingly counter-intuitive freshness that only serious ageing on lees can provide, a melange of citrus pith abd curd, toasted hazelnuts, chamomile and sea spray.
Pure, driven, long. Might just be the best Australian fizz ever release.

A world-class Australian sparkling wine with a mind boggling 16 years and 10 months on lees. A blend of 66/34% chardonnay/pinot noir, dosage 1.7 g/L, disgorged September '24. Arras means ‘rich tapestry’ and this wine perfectly encapsulates that concept. Light straw with a superfine, energetic bead and mousse. Layers of complex aromas and flavours on display – lemon curd, grilled peach, green apple, slippery jacks, fig, crushed stone, ozone, crushed oyster shells, almond paste, shortbread, meadow flowers, soft spice, fresh brioche, white truffle and grilled nuts. The flavours unfurl with precision on the palate, constantly changing and dancing with each other in a perfectly choreographed dance. It's a stunning wine, with a graceful, fine travel across the palate and a finish that seems to stretch out infinitely.

No oak used here, as oak was only introduced to the Arras house style from 2007 onwards. This has a tiny dosage of 1.7g and 16 years and 10 months tirage, and while that has built layers of flavour and complexity, this is remarkably fresh at almost a decade of age. Lightly toasted honeysuckle, sea foam, lemon pith, dried herbs, chalky minerality. The palate requires time to process as there is so much detail here. It’s layered, seamless and harmonious yet full of vitality. Flint, shell, blanched cashew, oat biscuit, salted white blossom. Fine, firm phenolics are coupled with extraordinary concentration, tension and effortless elegance and a purity at its core. The back palate lingers endlessly. A lifetime achievement; it was a thrill to taste this wine in its third iteration after its first release as a Grand Vintage (8 years age), then as a late disgorged vintage (13 years age), and now as a limited anniversary release with over 16 years age.