Victoria 13.5% Cork $20
I’ve found myself getting back into Sparkling Reds in a big way of late. Particularly the drier, less porty styles. Seppelt’s introductory offering provides superb value, drinkablity and a dry-ish finish. The complexity of a Joseph or Ashton Hills isn’t quite there but you aren’t forking out the same amount of money.
It’s cherried and nutty with plums, blackberries and leather underpinning the lighter fruit notes. Dark chocolate covered hazelnuts and pepper round it out. A deep earthiness is present on the palate which strikes a great balance between fine textural graininess and smooth flavour. The finish is good too, contributing mushrooms, coffee, mixed spice and fine tannin with a lick of oak. I guess you wouldn’t say it entirely lacks complexity then…
An impressive vintage of a classic wine. I’ll be keeping a few bottles around for staple spurgle pleasure.
Winery website- www.seppelt.com.au/
Well put, Jeremy!
Have you tried Seppelt’s Silverband Grampians yet? I think it’s a better bottle than the ‘Original’ (both are good, though!) and may be more to your liking, judging from your comments on the Quarry Hill. (I guiltily admit to not having got myself a bottle of QH yet)
I’ve not had the Silverband yet. It was on my list but it seems to have been buried under a mound of other wines. Will hunt a bottle down. That Flaxman NV is all class. I’d be keen to hear how it is travelling.