Seppelt Salinger Vintage Cuvée 2017

Seppelt chief winemaker, Clare Dry, has chosen to reduce the amount of sugar or dosage added to the company’s top sparkling, Salinger, thereby promoting its naturally fine cool climate attributes from 2017, a good year. A lower dosage also keeps the lip-smacking, citrussy acidity front and centre in this sparkling, a real treat. Expect dryness and acid crunch – remember we are talking about fruit from Henty, one of the cooler regions in Victoria – in equal measure, alongside a scintillating grapefruit, lemon, green apple fruit brightness. Three years on lees brings forward some subtle bread/dough notes and arresting oyster shell, nougat flavours bring a touch of complexity and length. The 2015 Salinger took out Sparkling Wine of Show at the recent National Wine Show. The 2017 is a good follow-up at a fab price.