James Halliday 95 Points

Teusner MC Barossa Valley Sparkling Shiraz 2020 is one of the most extraordinary and celebrated sparkling wines in Australia — rich, complex and built with the dark fruit intensity, fine persistent bubbles and old-vine Barossa Shiraz character that makes this one of the most distinctive and compelling sparkling wines available anywhere in the world.

With 95 points from James Halliday, the 2020 MC stands at the very pinnacle of Australian Sparkling Shiraz — crafted by Kym Teusner using the traditional Méthode Champenoise process (the same method used to produce Champagne) applied to old-vine Barossa Shiraz fruit of extraordinary quality. The result is a sparkling wine of genuine complexity and depth that is completely unlike any other sparkling wine in the world — the power and dark fruit intensity of great Barossa Shiraz combined with the fine persistent bubbles, creamy texture and secondary complexity that only traditional method sparkling wine production can deliver.

My Wine Man

This is for someone who wants one of Australia’s most extraordinary and celebrated sparkling wines — a 95-point Méthode Champenoise Barossa Sparkling Shiraz from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers.

Australian Sparkling Shiraz is one of the wine world’s great originals — a style that exists nowhere else and that at its finest delivers a complexity and depth that rivals the greatest sparkling wines in the world. Teusner MC takes this style to its absolute pinnacle — traditional method production from old-vine Barossa Shiraz fruit, crafted with the same obsessive attention to quality and minimal-intervention philosophy that defines everything Kym Teusner produces.

At HK$214, this is exceptional value for a 95-point traditional method Barossa Sparkling Shiraz of this quality and distinctiveness — a wine that over-delivers significantly at the price.

In my view, this is one of the greatest Australian Sparkling Shirazes available — rich, complex and completely compelling.

What makes this wine stand out

This is all about Méthode Champenoise craftsmanship applied to old-vine Barossa Shiraz of extraordinary quality.

Dark blackberry, black cherry, plum and dark chocolate sit at the core, with fine persistent bubbles, creamy lees complexity, subtle spice and the characteristic savoury depth that defines great old-vine Barossa Shiraz. The palate is full-bodied with extraordinary richness and complexity, balanced by the freshness and fine bubble structure that traditional method production delivers — a combination that is genuinely unique and completely compelling.

The defining feature is the method — Méthode Champenoise production gives this wine a complexity, depth and fine bubble structure that no other sparkling wine production method can achieve, transforming old-vine Barossa Shiraz into something genuinely extraordinary.

Rich, complex and completely compelling.

Style / drinking window

Full-bodied sparkling with dark blackberry, black cherry, plum, dark chocolate and fine persistent bubbles.

Creamy lees complexity, subtle spice and fresh acidity provide richness, depth and a long, complex finish.

Drinking magnificently now — best served lightly chilled rather than ice cold to allow the full complexity to express itself.

Why this is a must-buy

If you want one of Australia’s greatest and most distinctive sparkling wines at an accessible price, this is exceptional value.

It delivers:

• 95 James Halliday points — the benchmark score for Australian Sparkling Shiraz from one of the country’s most celebrated boutique producers
• Méthode Champenoise craftsmanship applied to old-vine Barossa Shiraz — a combination that exists nowhere else in the world
• genuine complexity, depth and distinctiveness at a very honest price

Ideal for duck, game, aged hard cheese, charcuterie or any occasion that calls for something genuinely extraordinary and celebratory. Serve lightly chilled.

Winemaker Insight

Hear directly from Kym Teusner on the philosophy behind the MC Sparkling Shiraz and what makes this wine so consistently sought after.

Explore more Teusner and Australian Sparkling

• Teusner Big Jim Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018 → same producer / still Barossa Shiraz / rich and structured
• Teusner FG Righteous Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 → same producer / collector-level / pinnacle of the Teusner range
• Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne → step across / world’s oldest Champagne house / Chardonnay-dominant elegance

Life’s too short for bad wine.