This wine forms part of Seppelt’s prized Drumborg Vineyard Range, sourced from the mature, cool-climate Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard in South-West Victoria’s Henty Region. Planted in 1964 by Karl Seppelt and swept by icy Winds from the Southern Ocean, it is one of the Southern-most vineyards of mainland Australia.
Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Henty Chardonnay is an expression of purity and balance. Select parcels of Chardonnay are chosen for their intensity of flavor and mineral acid structure. Traditional winemaking techniques are used, including fermentation in a combination of small and large format French oak followed by maturation on less. The 2018 vintage of this wine is a finely structured, yet powerful expression of Chardonnay with flavours of pear and citrus peel.
Varietal | Chardonnay |
---|---|
Vintage | 2019 |
Country | Australia |
Region | Henty |
Volume | 750 mL |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Alc/Vol | 13% |
Peak Drinking | Now - 2024 |
Winemaker | Adam Carnaby |
95 points | Andrew Caillard MW |
95 points | James Halliday |
93 points | Tyson Stelzer |
92 Points | Huon Hooke |
92 Points | Mike Bennie |
Andrew Caillard MW
Pale yellow gold. Fresh grapefruit lemon curd flinty aromas with tonic water notes. Attractive white peach, grapefruit flavours, bitter lemon tonic water notes, fine chalky al-dente textures, creamy mid-palate and integrated mineral acidity. A lovely pure-fruited style with sinuous structure and underlying saline, flinty, grilled nut complexity.
James Halliday
“Whole-bunch pressed, fermented and matured for 9 months in French oak (20% new). 15% mlf softened the potent acidity that is the spine of a very long and perfectly balanced palate. The flavours of citrus pith and white peach are highly kissed by the oak. Mixes restraint and power. Great potential.”
Tyson Stelzer
The precision and purity of the cool Drumborg vineyard is preserved magnificently with all of the crystalline structure and tension of malic acidity. Pear, lemon peel and fig are underlined by classy, understated French oak. Masterfully crafted by Adam Carnaby, this is one of the finest from this vineyard yet. It has the polish to impress on release, and will age, too. 93 points.
Henty is one of the coolest wine regions of Australia but is protected by a maritime influence. Famed for being the home of cool climate viticulture and the iconic Drumborg vineyard, Henty is renowned for its Rieslings, Chardonnays and Sparklings.
Vintage Conditions
A cool winter with good early rainfall was followed by warm, dry spring conditions, resulting in excellent fruit set. Summer temperatures were average to warm, with persistent fine conditions and little rain, resulting in above-average yields and exceptional quality.
As a Hospitality Manager at Melbourne’s Hilton Hotel, Adam’s affinity for the wine industry became so apparent that he enrolled in a Bachelor of Wine Science degree at Charles Sturt University, graduating in 2003. In 2001 he was appointed Assistant Winemaker at Yering Station in the Yarra Valley where he remained for five years, gaining vintage experience in Burgundy in-between. Then in 2007 he moved to Margaret River to be a Winemaker at Xanadu Wines for a further five years. These days Adam proudly dons two winemaking hats, creating outstanding cool climate wines from across Victoria: in 2011 he commenced as Seppelt Winemaker and in 2016 added the responsibilities of being Winemaker for T’Gallant. He relishes the challenge of being in charge of two great Australian wine producers – Seppelt with its 165 year history and focus on cool climate sparkling, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Riesling from the Grampians, Heathcote and Henty regions; and the more eccentric T’Gallant, pioneers of Pinot Grigio and Gris in Australia based in the Mornington Peninsula.