Latest reviews

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Such a balanced and precisely poised cabernet from this very good red wine vintage. Comes off 35-year-old vines. It’s deeply intense, carrying all the blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and ripe plummy characters you expect. But then dig deeper and there’s the black olive, bay leaf, and minerally cracked seashell complexity. Lovely mouthfeel and a very long finish. Class wine.

Margaret River

Tempranillo

Bright highly energised red fruit bursts from the glass in this exquisite drinking wine from this famous Spanish variety. The mix of red cherry and high-end rose petal aromas are engaging. Then the supple palate delivers with panache. Super.

Margaret River

Red Blend

It’s a take on the well-known GSM with these excellent bedfellows producing a wine of generosity and softness while representing deep fruit intensity. Matured for 8 months in older puncheons and then blended in equal parts. Floral red fruits with some mice chocolate and spicy characters. It’s medium weight with fine minerally tannins. An appealing wine over the next few...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

One of the prettiest and most refined of any Aravina chardonnay from this outstanding vineyard. The aromas are quite beautiful with a mix of cashew and intense grapefruit with traces of stone fruit. The palate is finely balanced with a deep intensity striking out with pear and cut lime with a slightly savory finish.

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

This vineyard was one of the first planted at Aravina back in 1986. The fruit is hand-picked and then whole bunch pressed to puncheons where it spent 8 months. The whole bunch pressing has added character while retaining the vibrancy throughout. Nectarine and creamy white peach characters and then a final lick of citrus to lift. A creamy textural expression...

Great Southern

Sauvignon Blanc

This restrained vintage required a deft touch when it came to the addition of oak, especially with fume styles like this one. Fortunately, these guys know what they are doing and have produced a highly drinkable young savvy will a compelling mix of lemon zest and light toasty cashew. Crisp long palate with a nice finish of oak.

Great Southern

Chardonnay

Oh, yes. Here is further evidence that this has become one of the State’s finest chardonnays. It seems this cooler vintage has suited it perfectly. It’s sourced from the cool climes of Denmark. The intensity and sustained power is evident immediate with the penetrating aromas of butterscotch, stone fruit and lemon curd striking out. The palate delivers with intensity and...

Great Southern

Cabernet Sauvignon

A most refined and stylish cabernet from this very good vintage. There is a purity of expression here that partly conceals the deep and intense palate concentration. Leafy aromas with a trace of minerally oyster shell and ironstone. The palate is more in the medium bodied area with fine chalky tannins and fine-grained oak lacing it together into a distinctly...

Geographe

Tempranillo

From the outset, tempranillo has proved to be well suited to pockets of Georgraphe. This from the intense ’22 vintage is packed with all the red punchy fruits you expect with this variety. Delicious blackberry and plum with a subtle liqueur cherry character. It’s spicy and laced with subtle dried herbs to complement the plush fruit. Tannins add definition. Bright...

Margaret River

Fiano

A highly perfumed and flavoursome example of this Italian variety that is making solid inroads into the Australian drinking psyche. Sourced from Margaret River. A mix of honey nectar and a squeeze of lemon to tighten creates a delicious current drinking wine. It’s textured and seamless with a lovely satiny feel.

Margaret River

White Blend

This is a wine that when it comes to the marriage of value for money and quality, never disappoints. It’s a vibrant and crunchy fruit-expressive wine with stacks of palate persistence sustained with a fine acidity and a little drizzle of citrus. Dry clean finish.

Margaret River

Sauvignon Blanc

The impact and influence of a small amount of barrel fermentation is immediately apparent. Slightly nutty and creamy notes merge with the lively crunchy passionfruit of this variety. The palate is bright and punchy with a citrussy edge. Lifted, fine finish.

Geographe

Red Blend

This is an exciting example of what can be achieved with quality fruit from Geographe. Colby Quirk has handled it with kid gloves, not pushing it too hard. The bright red malbec was given 18 months in French oak and the shiraz 18 months in American before they came together. The Mulberry plummy dried herb thing on the nose works...

Swan Valley

Grenache

Grenache makes some of the best wines from the Swan and this one in what was a very warm early start to vintage absolutely nails it. Medium-bodied with fragrant rose petals and earthy raspberry nuances. The palate is just delightful with sweet fruit balanced by understated oak, fine tannins and a little herby savoury touches on the finish.

Swan Valley

Red Blend

There have been some solid temps from this vineyard, and this blend with just a little grenache works mighty well. Ripe red cherry and raspberry fruits with some nice spicy dried herb notes. It’s soft and supple with a generous middle palate displaying typical plumpness. Oh, yeah, we’re ready to drink.

Swan Valley

Red Blend

Riverbank Estate Rebellious Field Blend Red 2023 ($19.50) This blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec is from the Swan Valley. It is a delicious wine for current drinking. Loads of ripe red fruit presented with medium-bodied and typical Swan Valley softness. Bright and vibrant, screaming for some pasta. Score: 90/100 Cellar: 5 years

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a most impressive intensely flavoured and expressive chardonnay from a vintage that produced wines of real power. A nutty cashew and stone fruit combo works with a rich mealy character. The palate is seamless with a butterscotch and slightly saline addition. Nice wine.

Frankland River

Cabernet Blend

Castelli Il Liris cabernet sauvignon shiraz 2021 ($120) This blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz from Frankland River illustrates the incredible range of wines that can be produced in this region. Bursts out with a combination of underlying black fruits with a lift of exotic blue fruits. It has structure and tannin, but the fruit opulence wraps around the tight...

Margaret River

Rose

Roses from this hot vintage seemed to have come up pretty well. This is such a case. It’s light-bodied and delightfully scented with rose petal and strawberry notes. The palate is light but with excellent texture. It finishes dry and crisp with a slightly savoury character.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

One of the best chardonnays yet under this label. But you expect that with mature vineyards, a great vintage and continually refined winemaking. Opens with a slightly savoury cashew aromatic, which is intense and immediately engaging. The palate is deep and multi-layered. Explosive and powerful, it extends with real purpose to a long though still linear and defined finish. One...

Pemberton

Nebbiolo

Medium-bodied wine that expresses much of the essential character of this Piedmont variety. Aromas of raspberry and mulberry with a slight minerally character. Bright floral notes add further aromatic life. The palate is still firmly held with the varietal firm tannins holding a line through to the long finish. Will benefit from some cellaring time.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A classically elegant and exquisitely presented cabernet from a vintage that combined fruit intensity and stylishness. The aroma has a distinctive lift of blackcurrant and slightly savoury olive tapenade with a deep dark chocolate character. Hint of bay leaf and oyster shell minerality. It’s finely balanced with fine-grained oak and firm fine tannins.

Margaret River

Nebbiolo

Managing tannin is a key part of making nebbiolo in Australia. In this case, wild fermentation, basket pressing, and extended maceration are all designed to soften those tannins without lessening their important contribution to this variety. It’s then aged in a custom-made Italian oak botte. The colour is quite pale but that can be deceiving. There is power here with...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

The fruit was sourced from Wilyabrup and the final wine was made from a selection of the best fruit from the best barrels. It was a cooler vintage, but, hey, this is Margaret River, and even in cooler years there is power. It got 24 months in French oak with about 42% new. Supremely balanced and elegantly structured wine with...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

This is largely cabernet with malbec and smaller contributions from merlot and petit verdot. The combination of fruit from Wallcliffe and Wilyabrup has been gently treated with hand plunging and basket pressing. It’s a generous medium to full-bodied wine with plush fruit contributions complemented by fine-grained oak and well-managed chalky tannins. The minerally mouth feel is a feature. Excellent.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

It was a warm vintage, and this is an excellent outcome. It comes from the outstanding Wildberry Springs vineyard. This is high-class chardonnay. After handpicking the fruit is whole bunch pressed to barriques of which 50% were new. A combination of wild fermentation, malolactic fermentation and regular extended lees stirring brings a complex textural element into play. A slightly creamy...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is such a bright and beautiful chardonnay showing tremendous intensity and vibrancy from this outstanding vintage. Whole bunch pressed to oak with wild fermentation and some malolactic fermentation with lees stirring for textural impact. It has a bright crisp minerality with spicy creamy stone fruit and cutting grapefruit edging in. Very long and precise palate.

Margaret River

White Blend

The inspiration for this blend of viognier and marsanne is the Rhone Valley. Gherardi has harnessed the natural opulence of these varieties to create a slightly steelier linear style, while losing nothing in palate intensity and persistence. It’s had about 9 months in oak but four of those were on fine lees, bringing that textural element into the palate. Appealing...

Frankland River

Shiraz

Stunning. This came out on top of 700 wines submitted from around Australia for my annual Top 100 red wines selling for less than $40. From the time I brought the glass to my nose to the final lick of the lips, I knew this wine was something special. Perfumed spicy plummy notes with a little raspberry confectionery nuance. The...

Frankland River

Cabernet Sauvignon

An elegant and slightly angular wine that strongly reflects this vintage in Frankland River. The cascade of black currant washes through the palate as the fine tread of tannin and fine-grained oak works through. A slightly savoury, minerally bay leaf and black olive nuance add further layers.

Mount Barker

Riesling

Another first-rate riesling from this small Mount Barker producer. From the start, riesling has been a consistent standout, and even in this very season, the quality is excellent. It is one of the best rieslings I have tasted from this vintage. Fine and linear with a lively energised aroma and palate. Lemon zest and spicy bath salts with a crisp...

Pemberton

Red Blend

A Right Bank-inspired blend of dominant merlot with contributions from cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. It’s a slightly atypical Aussie style with its restrained elegance and less reliance on plump ripe fruit. This is one of the best. Bright aromas of bay leaf, black cherry and tomato bush. The palate is medium-weight with depth and poise. A fine lingering acidity...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Wow, this is something special…very special. This is at the pinnacle of the Pannell family’s quest for great pinot noir. The 2020 vintage is spoken of in hushed tones, yet this one is pushing it all the way. It was a little closed when tasted but you don’t have to look far to see its greatness. It’s a multi-clonal blend...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

A most pretty wine showing delightfully friendly primary red fruit characters on the nose and then into the palate. Floral notes merge with cherry and spicy slightly earthy notes. The palate is light bodied and deliciously fruit driven, displaying bright fruit characters. The palate is balanced with excellent tannin and oak harnessing the fruit, building relentlessly to a long finish.

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Here's a compelling case for holding back some of these wines. I looked at it 12 months ago, and while it was tidy and impressive then, that extra year to settle has improved it immeasurably, earning another tick from me. The aroma is floral and perfumed with cherries and plums, and the palate delivers with certainty and poise, showing slightly...

Pemberton

White Blend

Oh my, this is a wonderful example of this classic WA blend. The cooler climes of Pemberton and this great vintage have combined to produce such vibrant high energy fruit. Beautifully balanced and presented blend of 85% sauvignon blanc and 15% semillon. Lip-smacking flavours of citrus and guava with a crunchy tart pear edge on the finish. With all the...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

This is an excellent wine. It is a blend of largely cabernet with smaller contributions from malbec and petit verdot. It is seamless with the generosity of the fruit cascading over the fine thread of oak and tannin. Plush black fruits with some nice darker plum and black olive influences. Has a bright and very lively palate that bursts through...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

This is a blend if cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, malbec and merlot. In a good year like this one, it offers some of the best value classy red wine going around. This is as good as any in this line. Plush red fruit of tremendous intensity. A firm core of tannin and oak holds it firm as the succulent fruit...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is one of the best cabernets yet released from this vineyard. It’s a gracefully presented wine of elegance and poise from the fine chalky tannins through to the energised finish. Blackcurrant and savoury plum notes with a light bay leaf and black olive nuance. The palate is so tightly knit with the fine tannins and fine-grained oak harmonised and...

Margaret River

Merlot

A lot of work was put into rejuvenating this vineyard when Moss acquired it, and it has certainly paid off handsomely with merlot in particular. It’s now recognised as one of Australia’s consistently best. This is another cracker combining the suppleness of the fruit with power and poise. You are getting a serious red wine here with deeply concentrated fruit...