2013 Sagrantino Appassimento, Chalmers

The Velvet Afterglow

A rare Australian dessert red with Italian soul and Heathcote depth. Made from sun-dried Sagrantino grapes, this is dark, plush and beautifully unusual, opening with black cherry, dark plum and sweet spice before moving into bitter chocolate, orange rind, bay leaf and a savoury woodsy richness. The sweetness is generous, but Sagrantino’s naturally firm tannin gives it shape, grip and a dramatic, lingering finish.

For when
You want something rare, indulgent and completely outside the usual dessert wine script.

Pairs with
Dark chocolate, cherry tart, blue cheese, aged hard cheeses, fig cake, toasted nuts or a quiet glass after dinner.

Chalmers is one of the most important names in Australia’s alternative variety movement, a family producer and vine-growing pioneer with a deep love of Italian grapes. Their Heathcote vineyard is home to a remarkable collection of varieties rarely seen in Australia, and their wines carry a spirit of curiosity, generosity and thoughtful experimentation.