Ghost Rock Catherine Cuvee Exceptionelle 2022

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 16 April 2026 “Sunkissed and radiant in the glass. This exceptional Tassie sparkling has matured for 2.5 years on the lees, imparting a quiet, confident richness that underpins its pristine freshness. The nose is beautifully layered with ripe orchard fruits, citrus peel intertwine, freshly baked brioche, almond cream and acacia honey. There’s a gentle lift of stem ginger, candied apple and grilled peach, with just the faintest whisper of burnt sugar adding a touch of indulgence without excess. With aeration, the wine unfurls further, revealing a delicate maritime spray and sunblasted apricot - a signature nod to Tasmania’s wild, ocean-cooled vineyards.

The palate is poised and precise, defined by its wonderfully cool profile and an exquisite bead of fine, energetic mousse. There is both tension and generosity here - a wine that evolves gracefully across the palate, revealing layers of ripe orchard fruit, citrus brightness and saline freshness, all threaded together by a refined mineral core. The texture is seamless, the balance impeccable.

This is a sparkling wine of real pedigree and intent. Already immensely compelling, it promises even greater complexity with 5–10 years in the cellar. The finish is long, harmonious and quietly powerful. Super moreish, sophisticated and deeply satisfying.”

Vintage

Our 2022 vintage was much like 2021, with dryer than average summer conditions, ideal ripening temperatures, and evasion of weather events that gripped other regions. Yields were average across the vineyard, with quality and aromatics proving high across all varietals. Fruit reached ideal ripeness with
ease and came in swiftly in 3 short weeks across each of our blocks. An easy growing season, drama-free, and producing some of our most aromatic wines yet.

Viticulture

This vintage's Charonnay dominant profile was sourced from some our best blocks for the variety, Bonadale and La Filles. Picked weeks before our table Chardonnay, these two vineyards provide the perfect ying-yang
fruit profile for our Catherine. One fruit and mouthfeel driven, the other mineral driven with tight precision. The Pinot Noir component was source from our tried and true sparkling block in Bonadale vineyard, the closest block to the press, picked and pressed within minutes.

Winemaking

The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are picked seperately, with careful vineyard selections. We always harvest and press our sparkling first thing in the morning, to minimize skin contact and to obtain the most delicate and
pristine juice. We separate into 3 press fractions, and the most gentile and highest quality fraction is designated for Catherine. Once tank fermented, it is joined with its Pinot Noir component, and undergoes malolactic fermentaion. It then ages on lees in tank for 10 months, before a secondary fermenation and tirage bottling in Feburary, just before we pick the next vintage of sparkling. It ages again on lees, this time in bottle, for at least 30 months before its disgored, rested, and finally released. A true labour of love.