SEPPELT Chalambar Shiraz, Victoria
First made at Great Western in 1953 by legendary Seppelt winemaker Colin Preece, Chalambar is popular Victorian Shiraz, with proven longevity, blended to a style from grapes grown in different regions, commonly the Grampians and Heathcote. The wine is named after Mount Chalambar in the Grampians.
Chalambar displays great depth of flavour and elegant structure, and highlights skilful winemaking and the benefits of blending. It combines cool climate spice and elegance with dark plummy fruit and fleshy generosity. Fine velvet tannins and restrained oak lend the structure for longevity -- Chalambar has the potential to improve in the bottle for many years.
High quality grapes and skilful winemaking creates a vividly coloured Chalambar that would have greatly pleased its creator, Colin Preece, whose great wines were usually blends of varieties and/or regions. The spicy, fragrant black fruits of the Grampians provide the elegance and intensity, Heathcote adding mid-palate flesh. This will age superbly, and is a great bargain. Drink to 2038. 96 points, Wine Companion (9/2014).
