Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2006 Thursday, Feb 21 2008
Tasting Notes and Australia and Bendigo and Grampians and Variety and Red and shiraz et al
I didn’t think the 2005 Chalambar was much chop (although I only tasted it briefly in amongst a raft of other wines) and the 2005 Moyston I can’t recall tasting at all. This vintage looks to be back on top form mind you and tasting this over two nights I have the scores of both 92 and 93 circled on the madness that is my tasting notes book. If you have a taste for Grampians/Bendigo shiraz then I’d expect that you will be very pleased with this wine. Release date is April 1.
Opens with a little toasty oak and a slightly reduced meatiness but give it some time and a rich mix of berries, plum, pepper, spice and aniseed will be revealed. It delivers all those good things you expect in Victorian Shiraz. On the palate medium bodied with good weight and depth of ripe fruits such as plum and mixed berry but essentially it feels quite dry - certainly spicy, a little bit meaty and has some dark chocolate thrown in too. It has plenty of ripe mouth coating talc-like tannin, unobtrusive acidity and closes with very good length and a slightly bitter chocolate aftertaste. A very good Chalambar. Good news for many because if it’s a staple in your cellar then you can safely bang a few in.
Other vintages: 2005, 2004, 2004, 2003
Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : Feb08
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $26.99
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2008 - 2015+
Source : Winery Sample
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8 Responses to “Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2006”
February 21st, 2008 at 11:11 am
Thanks Gary
Cheers
David
May 27th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Gary,
What’s happened to the release of this ? I haven’t seen anyone with it yet, to try a bottle (or have I already missed the boat ???)
May 27th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
It would have been released and still widely available. I’m not sure, I don’t get out much, but perhaps 05 is still floating through the retail chain.
GW
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I understand the 2006 is being released through the major chains, with First Choice releasing it on 1 April, but Dan Murphy, which still has too much of the 2005 on its shelves (recently selling for $12.90 to shift it), is delaying release. Vintage Cellars has it on special with a magnum of the 2005 thrown in (also to get rid of it). The 2006 is back in form.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I was expecting to buy a 6-pack of this (on the basis of expectation and good reviews) but, after tasting last night, I think not. The wine I found was nothing like Gary’s description, or even the more glowing one of CM. Can there be bottle variation given that’s its a large-run wine??
I found the nose weedy and un-Shiraz-like with red and green capsicum. No pepper. Not much fruit depth and couldn’t see how the aggressive tannins could ever soften while the fruit lingered. There didn’t seem to be anything technically wrong, just not a style that I(or my wife) like - and we usually do like this style. It was uber-cool-climate too me. I certainly couldn’t detect any meatiness or chocolate, usually descriptors I like! 6+ hours in the decanter didn’t do much either.
Did they re-badge one of the rubbishy 2005s? I confess myself befuddled. If I tasted this alone I would have thought I was going mad.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Yes. It’s curious isn’t it. I’ve heard a lot of bad reports now. I might go out and buy a bottle.
GW
July 30th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Don’t spend too much!! I bought mine for $19 from VC (Robina, Gold Coast) last Friday (oddly full RRP at DM’s and First Choice). I was really wanting to like this wine …
July 30th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Just looking over previous notes, we both agree that 2005 was pretty ordinary (though think JH thought it okay, CM reasonable, and I can’t recall what JO said), that 2004 was very good (I think all in agreement, though Lincoln’s note not quite as complementary), but 2003 is polarizing - you didn’t like it, as did many other readers, but I, CM (in his Big Red Wine Book, past reviews) and JO loved it. Can’t remember JH, but I think he was also favourable.
So what’s this telling us? Either we’re all over the place with our tastings, or that there’s a lot of bottle variation about with these recent Chalambars. The other worrying thing is that we might have cellared some dogs on the basis of one good tasting, and then gone out to buy a 6-pack or more of more ordinary stuff.
There’s an argument, I think, for buying ASAP from the same place that you get your tasting bottle - perhaps to put the odds in your favour. That’s my analysis for today!