2020 Billy Button ‘The Cherished’ Sparkling Shiraz

With the whole of the Alpine Valleys devastated by smoke taint in 2020 we took the opportunity to look a little further afield for some interesting parcels of fruit. Made in small quantities from hand selected parcels, fruit was sourced from Bendigo - Brian and Julie Hurse, of the Hurse Vineyard, were colleagues who Jo worked with during her time a Seppelt.

Our Sparkling Shiraz is a classic cool climate style . With pepper, spice and dark fruits on the nose, balanced by an intense and structured palate which together suggest the long cellaring potential of this wine .

Production Note

Machine picked parcels of fruit were destemmed, but not crushed to allow some whole berry fermentation. The fruit was cold soaked for a period of up to a week prior to natural fermentation in open vessels and the cap was gently plunged twice per day during ferment. The wine was then pressed a few days after the completion of primary ferment and matured in old oak for two years. Tiraged, the wine allowed maturation on lees before being disgorged.

Optimal Drinking Window – now until …. as long as you can hold off... Sparkling Shiraz has an amazing ability to age thanks to the tannin structure, carbon dioxide level and sugar from the dosage.

Technical details

Reviews

"The sourcing of fruit from Bendigo was due to the Eastern Victorian Fires of 2019–20. In another life, Jo Marsh made Seppelt sparkling shiraz. She brings a rare understanding and love of the style, here revealing the benefits of bottle age before release. Black fruits, chocolate and woody spice with a dash of sarsaparilla are well-measured against a background of clean, crisp acidity and firm tannins. While sweetness is intimated, it's not a feature, but works well with the warmth and overall lovely spiciness of the sparkling. Don't over chill." Awarded 95 points, Halliday Wine Companion, Jeni Port - Published 12 August 2025