TN: Seppelt GR27 Vintage Fortified 1997

[Mahmoud Ali]

I picked this up a few years ago; the bottle shop had a promotional sticker on it that read "More Gold Medals than Ian Thorpe".

1997 Seppelt GR27 Vintage Fortified, Barossa, 19%, 375ml.
This is a port made from Shiraz and Tinta Molle. Although the back label states that it is drier than the traditional Australian style there was no mistaking it's sweet, new world profile.

Though it was a half-bottle, for a vintage port the colour was unexpectedly light, a garnet/brick centre with a pale watery rim. Sweet and spirity at first, with time it settled into an open, sweet, fragrant nose of dried figs and mocha, the spirit subdued and perfumed. The palate was immediately sweet, followed by spice, raisened fruit, and a leathery, slightly tannic finish. Initially it was a bit rough and spirity but with a few hours it mellowed and became quite smooth.

This port is quite advanced (much more so than any Portuguese port would be at a similar age), lighter in style and quite sweet, but it is quite enjoyable. I'd love to try a full bottle.

Cheers.....................Mahmoud.

[n4sir]

I'd love to try a full bottle.

As far as I know they were only bottled in halves, the bulk of them being dumped by the new owners Seppeltsfield a couple of years ago for a pittance.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Ahh, that explains why they appeared so reasonable at the time.

[bacchaebabe]

I think you can still buy the 98 of this for $60 a case.

[Waiters Friend]

I think you can still buy the 98 of this for $60 a case.

And quite a reasonable drop it is. Definitely VFM.