Sparkling Wine of the Year New Zealand: Quartz Reef Blanc de Blancs 2017

May 12, 2025

Jane Skilton MW

link to you tube video https://youtu.be/-OzGLVfjIic?si=yB9HD6iGc4ABWarl Stephen Wong and I travelled to Austria last year to attend VieVinum and we drank our fair share of Sekt Austria Grosse Reserve. But tasting the Quartz Reef Blanc de Blancs 2017, it is clear winemaker Rudi Bauer looked to Champagne, rather than his native Austria, for inspiration. Which is curious as Bauer has long been an advocate for biodynamics, a philosophy devised by fellow Austrian Rudolph Steiner.

The wine captures the essence of the estate. Alive, vibrant and full of energy, it is delicious above all else.

Any visit to Quartz Reef’s Bendigo vineyard starts in the compost shed, nicknamed ‘The Nerve Centre’, where the preparations and ‘teas’, both central pillars of the biodynamic way of farming, are prepared. But having spent time working with Clotilde Chauvet, now relocated to her native Champagne, it is clear that Bauer wanted to make a classic vintage blanc de blancs from 100% chardonnay.

Why was this wine a stand-out for the panel? In a large part it was its supreme elegance; pristine fruit, enhanced by laser-sharp acidity, complemented by long ageing on lees. And as an aside, I personally love the bottle shape which makes the wine stand out, even if it’s a pain in the butt to fit into a conventional wine rack.

The wine captures the essence of the estate. Alive, vibrant and full of energy, it is delicious above all else. This outstanding sparkling wine delivers so much pleasure and was the clear favourite of the panel.

“Great sparkling wine should be delicious above all else. This outstanding traditional method blanc de blancs combines elegance and precision, whilst delivering so much pleasure and was the clear favourite for the panel." Awards panel judge Jane Skilton MW

Persistent mousse. Soaring floral, white pepper and chalk aromas on the nose. This has incredible tension and youth for its age, taut and crystalline in texture with evidently high acidity but no tartness. The citrus and floral flavours are delicate and laced through with oyster-shell, building rather than fading towards the long, laser-like finish. A reprise of floral and subtle brioche/pastry notes closes the loop on this fantastically reverberant sparkling wine which has a long life ahead of it as it gains more complexity and savoury layers in bottle. (Cork)

Score: 96 ★★★★★ – view original tasting note

Alcohol: 12.5% Ageing: now to 2030

Food: natural oysters with mignonette dressing

Stockists: Quartz Reef Wines; Centre City Wines & Spirits, Wellington and online; Centre City Wines & Spirits., Hamilton and online (NZ); P&V Merchants, Sydney and online (AU)