Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"The 2020 Seifried Nelson Zweigelt had a very light crop and it only filled a small handful of barrels. The wine is concentrated with plum and cranberry flavours alongside notes of cedar. Lovely warm oak spices wrap around rich berryfruit weight on the palate. Enjoy!
2020 was another excellent year in Nelson on the back of the outstanding 2019 vintage. We enjoyed a great growing season with the challenge coming when Covid lockdown co-incided with our harvest period. Thankfully we were deemed an “essential business” and could continue with our harvest under very strict Covid health and safety measures.
The Zweigelt is a red grape variety originating in Hermann’s homeland of Austria. It is a favourite at Seifried family gatherings. Our Brightwater vineyard has just 11 rows, totalling less than one hectare of Zweigelt vines.
Zweigelt has full round berries and bunches, with rich purple skin and intense fruit flavours. The grapes were de-stemmed and fermented on their skins, and hand plunged twice a day. Following fermentation, the wine was gently pressed from the skins and transferred to a mixture of new and three year old French oak barriques. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and remained in barrel for 12 months. The wine was racked from the barrel in May 2021."
Reviews for the 2019 vintage below…
4 ½ Stars Michael Cooper, January 2022 (2019 Vintage)
"The highly attractive, ageworthy 2019 vintage was matured for a year in new and seasoned French oak barriques. It has a fragrant, fresh, plummy, spicy bouquet. Full-bodied, it is vibrantly fruity, with concentrated, youthful fruit flavours and ripe, supple tannins. Well worth trying, it offers fine value."
90/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, November 2020 (2019 Vintage)
"It's delightfully fruited and brightly expressed on the nose showing Black Doris plum, raspberry, floral and mixed spice aromas. The palate is equally appealing with lovely rounded mouthfeel and succulent fruit flavours, leading to a lengthy fruity finish. At its best: now to 2025."