THE 2019 SEPPELT LUXURY COLLECTION
“It’s like being a chef going to a market full of his favourite produce. It’s the exciting part.”
1. 2017 ST PETERS GRAMPIANS SHIRAZ
The flagship wine for Seppelt, a testimony to the pedigree of Victorian shiraz. “’17 was a cool year with a long ripening period. Everything came in with just the right ripeness and sugar levels. It’s super medium-bodied and perfumed, very representative of what I think the region can produce,” says Carnaby. It’s enjoyable on release but will continue to cellar well for the next 45 to 50 years.
2. 2019 DRUMBORG VINEYARD HENTY RIESLING
A sought-after riesling of great purity and minerality, consistently rated one of the top rieslings in Australia by wine critics. “The 2019 vintage was similar to 2018, with heat spikes and cool periods, so the wines are stylistically similar,” says Carnaby. “They have similar sugar levels to balance out the challenging acidity. Rather than adding sweetness, the sugar has a textural impact, adding richness and helping it to age. It’s a great follow up to ’18.”
3. 2008 SHOW SPARKLING SHIRAZ
The Show Sparkling is a true reflection of a classic Australian style that will easily cellar for 20 years or more. “Seppelt has always made reserve sparkling reds – Colin Preece, a former winemaker at Seppelt, made some special-reserve releases in the 1940s and called them show sparklings; we’ve kept that tradition. They get a slightly different treatment: extended maturation time in the vat and in bottle on lees. The base wine is sourced from high-quality parcels similar to St Peters Shiraz but we choose grapes with a different tannin profile: plush and powdery but with the lovely purity of fruit.”
4. 2017 MOUNT IDA HEATHCOTE SHIRAZ
Only made in exceptional vintages, this single-vineyard wine is renowned for its regional definition.
5. 2018 DRUMBORG VINEYARD HENTY PINOT NOIR
Expect perfumed fruit of dark cherry with complex charcuterie notes.
6. 2018 DRUMBORG VINEYARD HENTY CHARDONNAY
Displays a purity of fruit rarely found in other regions, coupled with the hallmark Drumborg mineral acidity.
7. 2018 DRUMBORG VINEYARD HENTY PINOT MEUNIER
Showcases good concentration of flavour and silky tannins, reflective of a cool vintage and long growing season.
8. 2013 SALINGER HENTY VINTAGE CUVÉE PINOT NOIR CHARDONNAY
A warm and dry vintage saw fruit picked a touch earlier to retain pristine fruit structure and acid for this sparkling.
9. 2017 CHALAMBAR GRAMPIANS & HEATHCOTE SHIRAZ
Grampians shiraz imparts floral notes, mulberry fruit and powdery tannin complemented by the earthiness of Heathcote shiraz.
10. 2018 JALUKA HENTY CHARDONNAY
Crafted in the modern style of chardonnay, this wine is generous but finessed.