SEIFRIED ZWEIGELT SYLVIA 2017

This intriguing wine from Nelson often sits quietly on our shelf without drawing too much attention to itself but recently, famed UK wine writer, Jancis Robinson, tasted the 2014 Seifried Zweigelt and was rather taken by it. She has referred to her surprise and delight about it in a couple of articles now so we thought we should take a look. The 2014 has all gone from the local market but the 2017 is also very appealing. Bright and lifted aromatics with dark berry fruits and spice on the palate with a nice zippy wee drive through the finish. 

Winery notes (2017 Vintage)
"The Zweigelt is a red grape variety originating in Hermann’s homeland of Austria – and is a favourite at Seifried family gatherings. Seifried has just 11 rows, totaling less than one hectare of Zweigelt planted at our Brightwater Vineyard.

Our vines were eighteen years old when the fruit for the 2017 was picked – 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 times 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 April 2018.

The 2017 Seifried Nelson Zweigelt has blackberry and tree-ripened plum aromas on the nose. The palate is broad with generous berry flavours and hints of licorice. Smooth tannins wrap around the palate leaving a long lasting finish on the wine."

Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, August 2019 (2017 Vintage)
"A cross between st laurent and blaufränkisch that was bred in Austria where it is now the most widely planted red grape variety. Medium-bodied zweigelt with bright, crisp raspberry, cherry and subtle floral flavours. A simple, refreshing red. "

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, October 2018 (2017 Vintage)
"It is ripe and attractively lifted on the nose showing dark plum, cranberry, dried herb, roasted beet and warm spice aromas, leading to a succulent palate that is rounded and smooth. The wine offers bright fruit flavours and spicy complexity, firmly structured by chalky tannins. At its best: now to 2020."