"Matthew". Deep red/purple colour; unusually spicy but complex nose. Full-bodied, soft and round, with gentle tannins and early accessibility. Drinking well now but will age, and should be cellared to allow it to build more complexity. (4% malbec, 2% cabernet franc)
95 points, Huon Hooke (November 2017)
"Matthew". Deep, youthful purple/red colour. The bouquet is cedary, herby, cassis and blueberry-like and stylish, more reserved than the other Woodlands reds, still needing time to blossom fully. Intense and quite concentrated, it has good, ripe but firm, fine-grained tannins in abundance. It will richly reward cellaring. Outstanding cabernet. (4% malbec, 2% cab franc)
96 points, Huon Hooke (September 2017)
Tasted as a barrel sample that is due to come out of oak in two to three weeks' time from tasting, the 2014 Matthew Cabernet Sauvignon shows deep garnet-purple in color. On the palate, it is rich, ripe and very intense, with firm ripe tannins and great length. This wine has great potential!
(95 - 97) points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (March 2016)
Tasted blind. Mid blackish crimson. Inky luscious nose. Very fresh and lively and soars out of the glass. Just slightly dry on the end, but overall great balance and life and refreshment. Margaret River?
17 points, Jancis Robinson (November 2017)
Matthew. A blend of 79% cabernet, 14% merlot and 8% malbec, this supremely refined wine is Margaret cabernet at its best. Deep, bright ruby red in colour, pure blackcurrant fruit aromas intermingle with some gently olive tapenade notes and cedar notes while the medium-bodied and very persistent palate is supported by very persistent and very fine-grained tannins.
95 points, Philip Rich (January 2017)
Margaret River
Located three hours south of Perth, Margaret River is Western Australia’s most prestigious wine-growing region. Serious vineyard development began only in the late 1960’s following the publication of a report by John Gladstones in 1965 stating that the area had a similar climate to Pomerol or St Emilion, with low frost risk, plenty of sunshine and equable temperatures within the growing season promoting even ripening. Margaret River’s climate is warm and maritime, with some cooling influence provided by southeast trade winds. The soils derive from granitic and a gneissic rock over which laterite has formed. The region can be divided in three sub-regions: the cooler south between Yallingup and Karridale with predominantly lateritic gravelly loamy sands and sandy loams; the warm and sunnier Willyabrup in the centre with predominantly gravelly loams, but some gritty sandy loams and granitic gravels; and Margaret River in the north with similar soils, but slightly cooler temperatures. This is entirely consistent with style; the wines from Willyabrup being more generous than the highly structured wines of the north and the elegant styles of the south. Margaret River is best known for high quality Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blends and top notch Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends. Over the years, the region has established an astonishing reputation illustrating a consistency in quality and a strongly focused winemaking culture.
