Seppelts Chalambar Shiraz 2012

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

There's been a bit of speculation on wine forums about this one, so here goes. Decanted / aerated immediately prior to service:

Deep purple colour, bright and clean. Big plummy nose, with a hint of mocha and cloves. There's also a savoury, slightly smoky bacon hint in the background.

The spiciness follows through to the palate. Strong mid palate, with the primary fruit prominent and some fine grained tannins in support. The savoury touch follows through from the nose also.

The wine is too young now (I like the way the 2010 is drinking, and older vintages back 10 years are all goin strong) but shows the signs of being a pretty good Chalambar when it grows up.

Cheers

Allan

[Michael McNally]

Thanks Allan

How were the extraction levels? I find the good Chalambars have less of that overt extraction of some of the 'bigger' vintages.

Cheers

Michael

[The fish]

I had a bottle of the 2003 on New Year's Eve. Even though 2003 wasn't noted as a great vintage I was disappointed. It was fairly muted on the nose with plums on the palate. Would describe it as muddy. No to very little complexity displayed. Could have been heat affected. Glad to hear that the 12 showed well.

Cheers
Matt

[Waiters Friend]

Thanks Allan

How were the extraction levels? I find the good Chalambars have less of that overt extraction of some of the 'bigger' vintages.

Cheers

Michael

Hi Michael

Extraction levels were moderate. I didn't notice them as dominating when I wrote the TN, but now you ask, they were there, but supporting.

I think this will be one of the better Chalambars given a little time.

Cheers

Allan

[Broughy]

I had a bottle of the 2003 on New Year's Eve. Even though 2003 wasn't noted as a great vintage I was disappointed. It was fairly muted on the nose with plums on the palate. Would describe it as muddy. No to very little complexity displayed. Could have been heat affected. Glad to hear that the 12 showed well.

Cheers
Matt

Matt the 2003 I have had have been stellar all screw capped. Probablly had around 3 doz over the years and wished I had more. Suspect yours may have been affected.

They can do with a bit of air or a lot of glass swirling. I often find they evolve in the glass if you let them

[Phil H]

Thanks Allan, my local is still stocking the 2010 vintage, however I have seen the 2012 further afield and was wondering how it rated. Does anyone know if there is a 2011 vintage?

[qwertt]

Thanks Allan, my local is still stocking the 2010 vintage, however I have seen the 2012 further afield and was wondering how it rated. Does anyone know if there is a 2011 vintage?

The Seppelt website only goes up to 2010. But given the problems that many vignerons had with the 2011 vintage, coupled with the fact that a local big box retailer (with a poor understanding of vintage difference) went straight from 2010 to 2012 without fanfare, I would say almost certainly not.