A swab of black olive. Thyme and dried scrub. Earthen. A gentle whiff of cassis emerges from beneath the leafy foliage of an immensely savoury, mid-weighted cabernet. My wine of choice on Qantas Business Class. Aussie Petit Chateaux.
92 points, Wine Companion (March 2020)
Attractive, fresh aromas of roses, red plums and red berries with light chocolate notes, as well as fresh-earth accents, too. The palate has a very supple, juicy feel with a bright core of red plums and lighter mulberries.
93 points, JamesSuckling.com (March 2020)
Deep red/purple colour, with a bouquet that leaps out of the glass: black fruits, smoked plums, traces of regional nori, the palate very drying and savoury, the tannins winning the tussle, leaving a very dry finish that lingers on well. Black fruits, violets, nori and iodine traces. A well-structured wine, and a good food wine.
92 points, The Real Review (September 2020)
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.
