Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 1998

James Halliday Top 100 Wines of 2000

Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz has been crafted by Seppelt since 1952 and is sourced from a selection of Victoria's finest Shiraz growing districts. The first vintages were made by Australian Winemaking legend Colin Preece. Chalambar Shiraz is named after the picturesque Mount Chalambar located near Great Western in Central Victoria. This wine highlights the success of multi-regional blending and epitomizes Seppelt's long history and expertise with old Victorian vineyards. 

"Another gold medal winner and another wine to flower in the bottle since release. The fragrant, intense and stylish bouquet is full of black cherry, spice and leather fruit, the oak subtle, with lovely texture and mouth-feel."  James Halliday

The 1998 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz is the 'biggest' and most powerful of the Chalambars in the last decade. A blend from Bendigo, Great Western, Grampians, Seymour, Bright/Mt Beauty and the Strathbogie Ranges in Victoria, it was matured in 50% French and 50% American oak hogsheads for 18 months.

Expert reviews

"So impressed was I with this I bought two cases. Another gold medal winner and another wine to flower in the bottle since release. The fragrant, intense and stylish bouquet is full of black cherry, spice and leather fruit, the oak subtle, with lovely texture and mouth-feel. Drink 2003-2013."  James Halliday, The Weekend Australian – 95 points and Top 100 for 2000

Jeremy Oliver – 93 points (No review available)

Awards

James Halliday Top 100 Wines of 2000

About the winery

Seppelt is one of Australia's most historic wine producers. Few Australian wineries have carved such a distinguished name for both still and sparkling wines. Not only is Seppelt a pioneer of white and red sparkling wine in Australia, but it also crafts some of the country's most collected table wines and has helped pave the way for cool climate styles in Australia.

Seppelt wines capture a diversity of Victorian terroirs. It sources fruit from vineyards situated in the cool Grampians, the Henty Hinterland, Heathcote and Bendigo. Each region offers parcels of unique character and distinctive regional typicity. The backbone of Seppelt's portfolio are the three iconic wines; St Peters Shiraz, Drumborg Riesling and the Show Sparkling Limited Release Shiraz, which is made only in exceptional years. 

The Seppelt Great Western winery traces its history back to 1865 when it was founded by Joseph Best – his brother also notably planted nearby. The vine material was sourced from St Peters Vineyard, which was the region's first vineyard planted just two years earlier in 1863. Best commissioned gold miners to dig the underground tunnels or drives that the winery is famous for. Those drives were expanded by Hans Irvine who purchased the estate after Best's sudden death in 1887 at the age of 57.

Irvine also expanded plantings and employed the ex-winemaker from Pommery, Charles Pierlot. At that time, some sparkling wine was being made locally, but it was Irvine's commitment that established the strong tradition in the region. That included what is often credited as the first Sparkling Burgundy, as it used to be called, made from red grapes, while sparkling whites were made from ondenc (once a common Bordeaux grape but now mainly grown in Gaillac), which has naturally high acidity.

By the early 1900s, there were over 1.6 kilometres of drives for cellaring and Great Western was Australia's largest wine producer. The operation was sold to Benno Seppelt in 1918, who added the family name and expanded the business further.

Fast forward to today and the winery is part of the Treasury Wine Estates portfolio, but the traditions are still very much alive. Winemaker Clare Dry, who spent 13 years crafting wines in South Australia, took over from Adam Carnaby from the 2021 vintage.