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Wine Description
The Story
Varietal: Shiraz
Region: Grampians, Victoria
There is no doubting the pedigree of the flagship wine in the Seppelt wine portfolio, the stunning St Peters Shiraz. First released in 1964 as the Great Western Hermitage, it is a wine that is only released in the finest vintages, with fruit sourced from the remarkable, low-yielding Seppelt vineyard sites in the Great Western region. The weathered volcanic soils, red-brown earth and granitic sands of the St Peters and Imperial vineyards, planted in the 1930s contribute to this majestic wine along with select parcels of fruit from the younger Police, Arrawatta and McKenzie vineyards.
It is a wine that has captivated many a wine drinker over the years. Rated Excellent in the Langtons Wine Classification it is a wine of restrained purity and power, with beautifully rendered black and dark berry fruits, fine, ripe powdery tannins and a line of shimmering acidity. With a noble track record in the cellar, it is a wine that, while able to provide immense drinking enjoyment in its youth, will repay careful cellaring handsomely.
Released in small quantities and only in exceptional years, St. Peters is Seppelt’s flagship Shiraz, testimony to the distinctive style and pedigree of Grampians Shiraz. The lineage of this iconic wine dates back to 1964, when ‘Great Western Hermitage’, as it was then known, was first made. Since 1998 this wine has been called St. Peters in honour of the first vineyard planted in the region.
Today St. Peters is sourced from the finest and most intense fruit from the best blocks of the Great Western Vineyard. In vintage 2017, this included select parcels of fruit from the Imperial and Arrawatta blocks and is a powerful, seductive expression of Shiraz from the Great Western region. With extraordinary cellaring potential of 50 years or more, this wine is classified ‘outstanding’ by Langton’s in its classification of Australian Wine VI.
Wine Information
97 points – Andrew Caillard MW
"Medium deep crimson. Beautifully intense and pure black cherry, black berry, mulberry star anise, hint black pepper aromas with underlying savoury notes. An inky deep palate with supple black cherry, blackberry fruits, animated fine chalky tannins, and roasted chestnut, ginger, vanilla oak notes. Finishes gravelly firm with persistent juicy fruits and fresh linear acidity. Still in elemental phase but generous and claret-like with superb richness, density and torque. Should develop very well. A classic central-Victorian Shiraz."
97 points – Tyson Stelzer
"It's not its commanding, black power that sets this apart as a grand expression of St Peters, nor its seductive, fragrant, five spice and pepper-laden personality, nor even the effortless, supple, silky tannins of these fabled old vines, but rather the consummate and seamless manner in which it effortlessly unites these three universes to monumental effect. World class."
Vintage 2018
At a glance summary
The Australian winegrape crush was 1.79 million tonnes – a decrease of 10 per cent from the record 2017 harvest.
The crush was just above the long-term average of 1.76 million tonnes
The average purchase price across all varieties increased 8 per cent to $609 per tonne – the highest since 2008.
Average winegrape purchase prices paid increased across the board:The average for red varieties increased by 11 per cent to $768 per tonne and,
The average for white varieties grew by 5 per cent to $444 per tonne.
The total estimated value of the crush decreased by 3 per cent to $1.11 billion due to lower tonnages partially offset by higher average prices.
Red varieties overall decreased by 15 per cent in tonnage while white varieties decreased by 4 per cent, leading to a reduction in the red share from 55 per cent to 52 per cent of the crush, in line with the three-year average.
Shiraz tonnes crushed decreased by 17 per cent, Cabernet Sauvignon by 14 per cent and Merlot by 19 per cent.
Chardonnay was the only major variety to go against the trend, increasing by 9 per cent and restoring its share of the white crush to 47 per cent.
The crush in cool/temperate regions decreased by 20 per cent overall, while warm regions decreased by5 per cent and increased their share of the overall crush to 72 per cent.
The proportion of winery-grown fruit decreased from 33 per cent of the crush in 2017 to 31 per cent in 2018.
2018 Barossa vintage one to savour
Barossa 2018 vintage wrapped up at the end of April 2018, with grape growers and winemakers happy with a high-quality vintage and good yields.
“Flavours and colours in reds are wonderful, and natural acids in the Eden Valley whites surprisingly high, with early standout varieties this year including Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet”, said Yalumba head of winemaking Louisa Rose.
The growing season started off well, with Winter 2017 rainfall around 10% higher than average. However, Spring rainfall was only 78% of average in Barossa Valley (BV) and 98% in Eden Valley (EV), and December rainfall was only 57% of average in BV (88% in EV).
Drier soils, combined with warmer than average October and November days (October 2ºC above average in BV (1.8 ºC in EV) and November 1.1ºC above average in BV (1.6 ºC in EV), meant the vine canopies grew quickly; flowering well and setting a good number of bunches.
January and February were warm and dry, with very warm temperatures in February slowing down the pace of ripening. January was slightly above average (1.4ºC during the day but closer to average at night) and February was about average during the day, but with significantly warmer than average night time temperatures in Barossa Valley (5.8ºC warmer).
With summer rainfall 50% of average, growers with access to water, soil moisture monitoring, good irrigation management and healthy soils experienced less stress – and subsequently delivered sound fruit and consistent yields.
The Indian summer of March and early April was ‘the icing on the cake’, with average temperatures, without extremes, perfect for finishing off vintage. The 28-30mm of rain on 14/15 April did not cause any major problems for picking – and was a welcome post-harvest watering for most Barossa growers.
Overall, in 2018, Barossa Valley crushed 56,970 tonnes*, down 22% from the 2017 vintage but 9% above the five-year average. In 2018, Eden Valley crushed 11,593 tonnes*, down 3% from 2017.
The total Barossa crush of 68,563 tonnes* contributed 9% of the total volume and 25% of the total value of the South Australian crush.
Average prices for Barossa Valley varieties remained steady in 2018, with Shiraz at $2252 per tonne 1% down on last year. In Eden Valley, the average price for Shiraz increased 11% to $2636 per tonne and Cabernet Sauvignon increased 15% to $2354.
*Wine Australia estimates the SA Winegrape crush response rate is 85%, so the actual total Barossa crush is estimated at 75,000 to 80,000 tonnes.
Recommended glass shape
Average Bottle Price
| 2020 |
|---|
| 44€ |
This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.