Flowstone’s Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc is aptly named–the 2017 vintage was the highest rated of it’s type in the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion. Ned Goodwin deemed it, ‘seriously fine.’ One sip, and you’ll agree.
Queen of the Earth is almost modest in its restraint, although it’s far from austere. Elegant is more the word. The length is superb. Tropical fruits and white florals are present in the aroma, and fruit cuts through on a balanced palate. This brilliant wine drinks beautifully now, but deserves time to get even better.
Hand picked in a day from the southern Karridale vineyard, fermentation in one 600L demi-muid. Post-ferment maturation in the same vessel for 15 months, occasionally stirred. 12 months further in bottle prior to release. This is sensational. Serious layers of flavour and texture on the palate show a reverence for the variety by Stuart Pym. Long, lean and lithe; this shares guava, lychee, red apple skins, white stone fruit, exotic spice and a distinct oriental leaning of anise and pink peppercorn. Serious stuff.
97 points, Wine Companion (November 2020)
Fermentation and 15-months maturation in a 600l demi muid, occasionally stirred. Always a striking and complex wine that manages to be as light on its feet as a ballet dancer, juicy fruits flowing in curved lines through the mouth, humming drink me, drink me.
97 points, James Halliday's Top 100 Wines of 2021
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.
