The ‘Grounds’ wines from Seppeltsfield focus on the sub-regionality of the Barossa. The name is derived from the Barossa Grounds project. This was a comprehensive study of the district’s sub-regionality led by the Barossa Grape & Wine Association. The fruit is sourced from single-site, estate-owned vineyards.
'Seppeltsfield, under the ownership of entrepreneur and winemaker Warren Randall, has undergone a remarkable transformation.'
The fruit for The Westing is sourced from the Western Grounds Vineyard Seppeltsfield ‘V Block’. The Westing is vinified through Seppeltsfield’s historic 1888 Gravity Cellar. The fruit is fermented in open fermenters and matured for 14 months in new and seasoned French oak hogsheads. The Westing is a full-bodied Shiraz in the classic Barossa style. Showing ripe and dark fruits, framed by robust tannins and balanced acidity
Selectiv'-harvested and sorted, open-fermented with cultured yeast, 10 days on skins, matured for 14 months in French oak (30% new). Very different to the Easting. It's elegant and brings savoury notes into play. The light to medium-bodied palate is very long, and brings in some red notes. Harmony is the take home message.
95 points, Wine Companion (March 2020)
Very deep, dark, concentrated purple/red colour, the bouquet shows black-earth, graphite, black olive and underlying black fruit characters. The palate is very full-bodied, profoundly deep and dense yet also silky-soft at the same time. There are licorice, blackberry jam and star anise flavours in the end-palate. Impressive structure and great length. A majestic shiraz, which should develop into a great Barossa classic. (From V Block, the Western Grounds Vineyard, Seppeltsfield)
96 points, The Real Review (March 2020)
HUGE. All the dark chocolate, liquorice, black fruit and minty perfume. Thick, black, supple Barossa Shiraz that’ll loosen the tie of the most hardened Aussie businessman in no time flat. “It’s bloody liquid seduction mate. Neck oil. Sheesh, this is good stuff”. Smooth tannin, flood of flavour, excellent length. Chocolate sauce with a lightly saline edge. “Jeez, let’s have another bottle of that!”
94 points, The Wine Front (April 2020)
Dark blackberries and blueberries here with a very integrated palate that has such velvety tannins and a sublime tannin texture. Long, plush and rich. Barrel sample.
(95-96) points, JamesSuckling.com (June 2019)
"Deep colour. Fresh black cherry, blackberry graphite, chocolaty aromas. Richly flavoured, buoyant and animated wine with deep-set black cherry, blackberry, strawberry fruits, fine gravelly, touch al-dente textures, and underlying roasted walnut complexity. Finishes firm and juicy with chinotto notes. Very good vigour and length. The alcohol of 15.5% is well integrated into the full-bodied richness of the wine."
95 points (2020)
Sourced from the western ridge of the Barossa Valley, Seppeltsfield's 2018 The Westing Shiraz is pretty typical of the genre, boasting plenty of blackberry and plum fruit on the nose; a full-bodied palate that's rich, ripe and round; supple tannins that play a supporting role and add a savory, dusty edge; and hints of espresso and black olive on the lingering finish. There's a hint of warmth here that's part of the style, but may limit the wine's ability to age past 6-7 years.
92 points, Wine Advocate (August 2020)
Lots of ripe dark fruits crammed into this deep and expressive shiraz from the easternvineyards. Displays more obvious tannin and grip than The Easting. Grainy tannins and some slightly toasty French oak augment the fruit. There’s a brilliance and energy in the fruit despite the relatively high alcohol.
95 points, The West Australian (August 2020)
Barossa Valley
Colonel William Light, the South Australian colony’s Surveyor-General, named the Barossa in 1837 after the site of an English victory over the French in the Spanish Peninsular War. In the mid-1800’s Silesian and English immigrants settled in the area. The Barossa itself comprises two distinct sub-regions: Eden Valley and the warmer Barossa Valley floor at 270m.The Barossa Valley enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate characterised by hot dry summers and relatively low rainfall. Cool sea breezes from the Gulf of St Vincent modify the temperature, however hot northerly winds can occasionally dominate creating considerable vine stress. Many older established vineyards are dry-grown, but supplementary irrigation is also extensively used. The valley is comprised of rich brown soils and alluvial sands. A long history of uninterrupted viticulture in the area means the Barossa valley is home to Australia’s largest concentration of old-vine Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre with many over 100 years old. Although most famous for Shiraz, the Barossa can also produce fragrant and deliciously fruity Grenache blends and beautifully rich, chocolatey Cabernet Sauvignons.Seppeltsfield is a showpiece of the Barossa Valley, a magnificent complex of 19th century winery buildings surrounded by almost 100 hectares of vineyards. Seppeltsfield was a focal point of the fledgling Barossa wine industry from the 1850s and now boasts the world’s longest unbroken chain of vintage wines, going back to 1878, enabling the release of a genuine 100-year-old fortified wine each year since 1978. Apart from the extraordinary range of fortifieds, Seppeltsfield today also produces a range of limited production table wines, including blends of Shiraz, Grenache and Touriga, and sparkling wines under the Gert’s Blend label.
