Introduction + 98 Seppelt St. Peters shiraz?

[ehelle]

Hi guys,
this is my first post, and I would like to briefly introduce myself. I discovered this forum a couple of weeks ago and already I find myself spending more time lurking here than I should. First of all, I would like to thank Ric and Brian for the wealth of information and entertainment on their websites, and encouraging everybody to contribute.
I started enjoying wine (prefentially red) just a few years ago, so my experience is quite limited. I am here to learn from you, and prepared to embarrass myself on behalf of all the other lurkers who also desperately try to smell the ‘dark chocolate’ out of a 2002 Oliver’s Taranga Shiraz, but are too afraid to admit publicly.
Ironically, I live in the Rheingau, Germany, famous for its Rieslings I somehow canÂ’t appreciate. As you may guess, the average palate here is not tuned to Australian wine, or even full-bodied reds. Thus, little exchange. There is very little that I can contribute to this forum other than questions, hoping that itÂ’s not the zillionth time you have to answer them.

The first is a real practical one. YouÂ’ve been going on about the ultimateness of the 2002 Seppelt St.Peters shiraz, which seems to be inaccessible here. I do have access to a 1998, which was extremely praised by Halliday. Is it comparable to and possibly as good as the Â’02? I donÂ’t really care about a drinking window because IÂ’ll only be able buy 1-2 bottles anyway. No investment banker, I couldnÂ’t buy a wine in order to sell it laterÂ…, well, maybe if itÂ’s a riesling.

Thanks
Eric

[Jay60A]

Hi Eric,

Welcome to no longer being a lurker! Wish I knew half as much Ric and Brian but -

St. Peters has started to be hyped again (esp. 2002) but this is irrelevant, the quality has simply always been there. While I haven't tasted 1998 (only 2001-03), if you check this and many other forums, 1998 is a great vintage and rated as another great St. Peters.

In short, buy at least two. One to try now and the others to dream about. In ten+ years you'll thank me for this wisdom! It's only money ... right?

Or even better buy three and come visit me in NZ and we can taste the 1998 and 2002 together.

Cheers -- Jay.

[Neville K]

Hi Eric,
Welcome aboard. 1998 St Peters is a seminal wine for the marque. It changed the direction of Seppelts Great Western Shiraz. It is a really good wine. The 2002/03 vintages are better. 20O3 is more linear and elegant whilst the 2002 is supremely balanced and rich. 1998 is no slouch, but it is merely the prototype, not the sine qua non; not the last word. Check out all 3 vintages and make up your own mind...

Cheers
Neville K

[platinum]

Hi Ehelle.

I had both the 98 and 02 Earlier in the year. The 02 is already a better wine but I just wonder when these will open up? The 98 was so closed it amazed me. I would buy either.

[wine.hcg]

I bought severl 6-bottle cases of the 99 St Peters several years ago (A$30 pb) and found it quite nice ..haven't tried for a while .. haven;t had a chance to try to the 1998 or 2002 yet .. but $70+ pb for the 02 -- !!!

[Andrew Jordan]

I do have access to a 1998, which was extremely praised by Halliday. Is it comparable to and possibly as good as the Â’02?

Ehelle,

Interesting question. Must admit I have a 6 pack of the 1998, 2002 and 2003 in the cellar haven't touched them yet except for 1 bottle of the 1998. And that was consumed about 3 years ago now. But from memory the 1998 was a fantastic wine. It will be interesting to see how all three of these age and change and which one will come out on top in the end! I for one think it will be very close, with all 3 wines potentially classics in the making. Just lose them for the time being though!

[camw]

I had the '98 earlier this year - very good, but very tight and closed, a bit of a waste drinking now - will be super in 10 years.