Seppeltsfield Vineyard Shiraz 2022

Handpicked grapes from an 80 year old contoured Shiraz vineyard in Gomersol, Barossa Valley. Picked in the cool of the morning, 10% whole bunch with the rest whole berries destemmed into open fermenters, cold soaked before natural fermentation slowly occurring as it warmed. A long cool ferment spread over 9-10 days retaining all the lovely structure and flavour before being basket pressed into 30% new French oak with the rest seasoned USA and French where it underwent natural Malolactic fermentation.

97 points Winepilot Ken Gargett - For me, this is the absolute star of the range, among some serious competition. A near opaque maroon hue here, the aromas swirl around giving us characters reminiscent of plush new leather, chocolate, tar, mocha, ripe plums, graphite, licorice, bay leaves and blueberries. A creamy texture leading to fine, supple tannins, this is a wine of great length which never waivers in intensity. A twenty year proposition. Just gorgeous. 95 points Halliday Wine Companion 2025 - Deep magenta/purple with aromas of ripe satsuma plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruits. Hints of baking spices, clove, bay leaf, olive tapenade, dark chocolate, cedar, licorice, violets and earth. Full bodied yet there is a lightness to its footfall on the palate. Some nice detail, too, with powdery tannin support, just a hint of something ferruginous in the background and a savoury shape at the tail, finishing with spice, plums and stone. 94 points James Suckling - For those who appreciate extract, intensity and tenacity of finish, here's your ticket. Elegance is not the aim here. It’s detail, old-vine vinosity and beautifully hewn chewy tannins. There’s a confluence of licorice, iodine, dark fruit and French and American oak thanks to a judicious dollop of whole bunch. The fruit is beautifully rendered, if a bit oak-drying. Impressive wine.