Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2004 Thursday, Apr 20 2006
Tasting Notes and Australia and Bendigo and Grampians and Variety and Red and shiraz et al
Righto then. I have the 04 Chalambar on the right in a Riedel shiraz stem and the 04 Moyston on the left in a Bordeaux stem. In the middle is a pretty happy little taster.
Aromas of berry, milk chocolate, mint, black pepper, spice, roses and rosemary. There is plenty of lovely sweet vanilla oak here too but beautifully applied. A prostigious smelling wine! On the palate it is medium bodied. Fine and tight. There are flavours of blueberry and red fruits, spice, pepper and cigar box oak. Dry fine tannins and a long (very) dry savoury finish. This, to my tastes, is a vastly superior wine to the 2003. It is fresh, balanced and very refined. Outstanding.
Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Apr06
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $29.99
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2008 - 2016+
Source : Winery Sample
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39 Responses to “Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2004”
April 20th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Crikey.
Makes me think that my bottle wasn’t representative - from under screwcap.
I looked at the wine I reviewed over three hours, returning frequently.
It never offered up much aroma at all.
I gave it 90 points, and I only gave it that because I was in a generous mood.
Screwcaps are starting to irk me.
Lots of variation.
Campbell.
www.winefront.com.au
April 20th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
I dig it. Screwcaps stop taint but there are other issues perhaps. I don’t know. This was very fragrant. After the 2003 Chalambar (which I really did not like - sickly) I was not expecting much. I was looking to not like it .. but charmed I was. It is a mighty wine. There should be more shiraz like this..at this price. I read your review and Lincoln’s. I am not ashamed to admit all sorts of bias..but blind or not blind we can only call it as we taste it on the day. I will be very interested if you re-taste.
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 8:42 pm
I gave it 93 points. It is not a broad and aggressive as the 2003 vintage of this wine and probably has a touch more class; which would probably be a reflection of the vintage. Dark purple in colour, the nose is concentrated and rich with dark berry fruit and spice. It has juicy black cherry fruit on the palate, with licorice and spice.
I think this wine really needs to sit in a decanter for a few hours to get the most on it. Will live for a long time I’m thinking as well.
April 20th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Too right.
I just poured myself another glass from the bottle I opened earlier today.
Maybe seven or eight hours now since the bottle was first opened.
Very good wine.
Great tannins.
But still only 90 for me.
Just went and changed my review slightly.
Campbell.
www.winefront.com.au
April 20th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
But why was my bottle so open from the word go? Oh..(interactive tasting)…you are right Anth…it does have some blackstrap licorice and the florals but mainly cholocs (as Bert would say). I really like this.
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 8:51 pm
PS. You are both points misers.
PPS. Get busy on the Moyston. I would be interested in your views.
April 20th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Gary always rates higher - he has a nice view when he is drinking the wine.
April 20th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
This is true. I have a mirror over my desk
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Are you wearing those special Daffyd red pants perchance?
April 20th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
Lincoln has a very wise palate.
Just wish he’d get off the southern rhone and move over to chianti or even north of that. I’ve lost interest in France
CM.
www.winefront.com.au
April 20th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
CM,
I’m getting there: got a few Italian wines to try, including some Clericos…
LS
April 20th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
He who loses interest in France loses interest in wine. That is wisdom.
I am the only renowned taster in the village I tell you!!
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
lol.
I just picked up 3 bottles of 01 clerico pajana. Bought via a complicated 3-way trade that also involved some draft picks.
I’ve just opened the 04 Moyston.
Lovely tannins
Lots of aroma.
Sophisticated.
By the time it’s opened up it might even rate as high as 88-89.
cm.
www.winefront.com.au
April 20th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Hmmmm…..renowned…..you didn’t rate this on that new rose scale of yours did you….the one that goes from 85-115??…..nice wine though 91 points on the bottle I tried today…smelt lovely though didn’t want to give much up at first….structured….very noice…..haven’t tried the Moysten as yet…..thoughts on the Benno?
April 20th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
The Benno is like a barrel sample. Marlon Brando.
Why can’t a rose be 95 points? You can win a gold medal at the disabled events in the olympics can’t you? (please don’t howl about that not being PC)
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
The Benno is more Mr Creosote than Marlon Brando……sure a rose can be 95 points…I’m glad you found one that good
April 20th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
I did! Len’s boy is a genius.
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
Hey….wine options comp coming up schnozzboy…half boy, half schnozz….we are getting a team together…..up for it?
April 20th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Of course. I am sure to sweep all competition aside with a mighty tilt of my renowned proboscis.
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 9:30 pm
It is a renowned team…..you may struggle…you do have a mighty probiscus though….renowned opponents too…the force is strong with these ones
April 20th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Pfffff. Minnows to my Blue Whale.
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
Is that rhyming slang?
April 20th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
No. Juxtaposition I do believe.
GW
April 20th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
Ohhh ok….not from where I’m sitting
April 20th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Gary,
You need to add a chat room to your prostigious site …… too much thread drift ….. rolling eyes …… lol
April 20th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
I have one… http://www.winorama.com.au/chat
I will use it for online tastings in the not too distant..
GW
April 21st, 2006 at 7:33 am
I will try the Moyston last week. I liked the 03 but it didn’t really get much exposure.
Well, I take thet back, don’t think I have seen Parker give 95 points to a Rose. Hee Hee Hee!!!
I think we may have to start calling Walsh the ‘Parker of Australian wine’
I am off for a golfing weekend to Tocumwal with somes mates(with one of them who is the agent for Battely: evil look in my eye - hopefully he brings a bottle!!)and have the car packed full of Italian wine. 83 Masi Amarone included. Italians are hot right now.
April 21st, 2006 at 9:45 am
Campbell, I assume your screwcap ‘variation’ is between bottles from the same case opened at the same time? I don’t believe screwcaps are going to provide any particular protection against damaging storage or transport…
Graeme
April 21st, 2006 at 9:47 am
Shit! $30! Is that right? The 2003 cost me $19. 50% price rise in one vintage? Geez, Gary must be Robert Parker…
Graeme
April 21st, 2006 at 9:51 am
Anth,
Steady on…I am a points miser compared to the likes of Oliver and Halliday!!
GG,
I always quote the RRP on the bumf of the bottle. Winestar are doing this for $19.99 - that is top value in my book.
GW
April 21st, 2006 at 10:02 am
Just joking Gary, got you on the front page of my website so I think your all right
April 21st, 2006 at 10:09 am
So you have! Prostigious. Thanks.
GW
April 21st, 2006 at 11:38 am
Point taken Graeme.
Though last year I had a Shaw and Smith SB, for instance, that was mailed to me in the depths of winter … it was fine but just seemed below par … I called for another bottle and it was tip top. Neither of those bottles would have been remotely heat affected. Not oxidised, just … muted/weird.
Campbell.
www.winefront.com.au
April 21st, 2006 at 5:12 pm
I have only had one bottle of this wine (two nights ago) but I think you guys are being generous, but as it has so highly pointed I think i will have to grab a another bottle and have a look.
And it pains me to say i have seen a fair amount of bottle variability in screwcaps, but is not too the extent that i have seen under cork.
cheers
April 21st, 2006 at 5:26 pm
I retasted it today…and I am still impressed. I like the Moyston better but this is great. I think 94 is the right score (adjusted)
GW
May 6th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Just had a bottle and agree generally with GW but have some reservations with the oak handling and would point it lower than 94 (90-91) … the fine balance sought is very hard to find as Seppelts really do try and punch outside of their price points and value wise this wine can’t be beaten easily, but quality wise it teeters because to many components stick out. A tad more fruit, a tad less charry oak, and leave the tannis and acid alone and you have a $40 bottle, but at $20 you’ve got to be happy.
Cheers
Mark G
May 6th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
You are wise Mark. 90-91 is about right
May 4th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Opened a bottle yesterday to compare to the last glass of 06 that I rated 87 on the Wine* online tasting. Didn’t points-rate it then (as far as I can recall) but the 04 on release would probably have been 89 for me. The acid is softer, the dark fruits are more to the fore but the tannins are still mouthcoating, could soften, drop out some more yet. That seems likely as it’s started to throw a light, fine crust. In another 5 years or so it may reach an excellent rating. Now, 91pts.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
91 points is an excellent rating..
GW