1923 Seppeltsfield
Para Vintage Tawny

BY ANGUS HUGHSON |&nbsp;FEBRUARY 21, 2023In 1878, Oscar Benno Seppelt started a long tradition for
Seppeltsfield Para Tawny Ports when he put down his first fortified barrel
destined for a century in the cellar before release. It is rare and one-of-a-kind,
which explains the astronomical pricing, making it the most expensive wine in
the country by volume. The unbroken line of vintages is a great tribute to the
winery, which has not deviated in almost 150 years. There is, unfortunately,
little known about fruit sourcing or grape varieties. All we know is that the
fruit was entirely from South Australia and likely largely Grenache, Shiraz and
potentially Mataro from the Barossa Valley, as that was traditional at the
time. Vine age is also a mystery. Over time in barrel, everything is dialed up
a notch as evaporation concentrates the flavor and structure, providing an
incredibly unique experience.<img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1676645411657-CF_Feb212023_copy.jpg">Thick and viscous, this 100-year-old Seppeltsfield 1923 Para
Vintage Tawny opens up with glorious aromas of antique furniture, wood
polish, old leather, coffee grounds, espresso and cocoa beans. A deep, brooding,
dark chocolate center offers a rush of sweet fruit. Despite its age, the 1923 retains
unbelievable vibrancy showing all the qualities of a wine that could go on for
decades. Then it displays a silky core of fruit with a strong backbone of
acidity underlying spicy, old wood rancio and raisin before a long, bright and
ethereal finish that, while sweet, almost finishes dry with extraordinary
length. The 1923 is an Australian icon, a wine deserving of a perfect score. 100/Drink
2023-2040. <div></div>© 2023, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or re-distributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright, but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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