Today marks the release of Seppeltsfield's annual collection. While best known for its premium fortified wines (its 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny 1922 just won Fortified of the Year and scored 100 points at the 2023 Halliday Awards), this new release follows the winery's vision to align that same reputation with its luxury still wines.
The jewel of the collection is the 2021 Great Terraced Vineyard Single Vineyard Grenache ($85). The fruit was hand picked from the iconic Great Terraced Vineyard, which was originally planted in 1855 before being re-planted in contoured rows 103 years later to ensure the rows followed the natural shape of the land. Traditionally this grenache would have been used in the production of fortified wines, however it is now the star of the still wine collection.
The 2022 collection also includes the release of the Grounds range: the Westing Single Vineyard Barossa Shiraz 2020 ($85), and the Southing Single Vineyard Barossa Shiraz 2020 ($85). The Grounds wines take inspiration from the Barossa Australia's Grounds Project, which brings winemakers, grape growers, and soil and climate experts together to conduct a study of the variations in shiraz across the region. Harvested a week and a half apart, the Southing and the Westing highlight how vineyard location and terroir can influence shiraz.
The Beach Blends release include the 2020 ‘No. EC405’ Barossa Shiraz Mataro ($50), and the 2021 ‘No. EC3’ Barossa Tinta Cao Tinta Amarela Touriga ($50). Beach Blends champions the winemaking technique of assemblage – a blending method combining varying grape varieties to create one wine. The 'EC' number in the wine names denote 'East Cellar', which are wines that were first released in the '60s by the Seppeltsfield’s founding family.
Chief winemaker Fiona Donald says the luxury collection is expressive of how different the 2020 and 2021 vintages were. "Both vintages delivered wines of style and depth, with future ageing potential in ideal cellaring conditions.
“In 2020 we experienced a warm, dry and low yielding season with a mild finish, whereas in 2021, a cooler ripening season from start to finish, delivered a balanced crop of exceptional quality. The 2021 vintage delivered a stellar Great Terraced Vineyard Single Vineyard Barossa Grenache, now firmly positioned as the jewel in the crown of our luxury still wine collection."
Fiona says the Seppeltsfield team is dedicated to matching its fortified reputation with the luxury still wine. "Fortunately, we have the means to do so with the combination of superior luxury vineyard holdings, the historic 1888 Gravity Cellar, and a focused team."
2021 Seppeltsfield Great Terraced Vineyard Single Vineyard Grenache
Bright ruby in colour, with aromas of ripe raspberry, blackberry fruit with anise, cinnamon and iron and graphite. The palate is savoury with weight and poise.RRP $85 | Drink to 2032
The Seppeltsfield luxury collection is available from today. Visit seppeltsfield.com.au for more information.
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