Nestled in the mountains of northeastern Victoria, just outside the picturesque town of Beechworth, lays the Savaterre vineyard. The mild summer days, cool climate elevation combined with the rolling foothills of the Victorian Alps was the magic terroir combination sought by winemaker Keppell Smith. Intensely focused on the creation of outstanding, individualistic wines far removed from the mainstream , Smith looks more to the winesmaking and viticulture of the Old World as his inspiration. “My mother gave me some sound advice when I was young - ” Be patient!” Being patient translates now to minimal intervention in the winemaking process. Minimal intervention and long, slow elevage in cool dark cellars are the cornerstones of our winemaking philosophy.” - Keppel Smith
"Hand-picked fruit, 20% whole bunches, natural open ferment. Matured 18 months in Burgundian oak (25-30% new), unfiltered. Named to honour the late Maurizio Ugge of Arquilla, Italian food and wine importer, who introduced the winemaker (Keppell Smith) to Italian wines. The high priest of tannin, the sagrantino grape is transformed by Keppell into a plush, focused, savoury, full-bodied, fine (and firm) tannic young wine, worthy of extended time in the cellar. A striking herbal thread blends in with black fruits, plum, bramble, bracken, earth and truffle which, in itself, is a complex grouping and so very different. You are not in comfortable ol' shiraz territory anymore; it's a pretty exciting place to be." - 95 Points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
"Inky, dark fruited red of savouriness and depth. Dark cherry, liquorice, saline mineral and graphite mineral characters, a bit of meat drippings and dried leaf character, undergrowth and sweet earth too. Slow moving but seriously good to sip on, a wine of grunt and groan with stuffing and depth. It’s heady in perfume, complex in flavour, but has this silk-draped-on-velvet-pillow feel too. A great wine, original and very good." - 94 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
