Latest reviews

Margaret River

Shiraz

A spicy and slightly peppery medium bodied shiraz from the 2020 vintage. Aromas of cherry and light plum with some nice mulberry influences and a leafy perfume. The palate is well balanced with the fine chalky tannins and neatly infused oak working in unison to bring it home to a long finish. Focused and precise.

Margaret River

Semillon

Ashbrook has been committed to this variety from the outset, and good on them. It’s a variety I love and I’m always keen to see a straight varietal version. A more restrained version in line with the season with traces of tropical fruits, cut grass and a zingy citrus tang. The acid keeps it crisp and keen through to a...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Pure and powerful Margaret River cabernet from right in the Wilyabrup dress circle. Opens with a salvo of fruit nuances on the nose. Blackcurrant and blackberry with some interesting blue fruit touches. Then there is the lifted bay leaf and minerally oyster shell. It is so classically cabernet. The palate is elegantly presented but deeply intense with dark fruits lifted...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

Comes from a very good season for red wines. Quite a firm statement yet there is deep fruit sweetness balanced by fine tannins and oak. Notes of blackcurrant and mulberry with a little black olive nuanced in there. The palate is medium weight with a firmish core driving to a long finish.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

From the wonderful 2018 vintage comes this excellent reflection of the season. The opulence and power is evident immediate, yet it delivers with a refined medium body. The aromas show those blackcurrant, bay leaf and slightly minerally brick dusty characters with a lifted bay leaf and black olive combination. The palate delivers a rich and textured mouth feel with firmish...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Another wonderful example of the outstanding chardonnays coming off this established Margaret River vineyard. Follows a line of handpicking and whole bunch pressing with wild fermentation and nine months in oak. The primary fruit of grapefruit and cut lime with some light brioche reveal their subtle qualities on the nose. The palate has a steeling linear feel to it but...

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

A neatly balanced light boded blend of these two varieties that sit so harmoniously together. The notes of lime and subtle red apple with light passionfruit emerge on the nose. The palate picks them up and adds a nice crunchy acidity to sustain a long finish. This is such good current drinking.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

The cabernets from Windance are always consistent and here is another beauty. Once again its medium bodied but the smooth elegance and refinement belies the power and intensity within. Powerful blackcurrant and dark plum with a little mulberry and dark chocolate. The palate is so well balanced with fine chalky tannins and subtle gentle oak infusion supporting the sweet fruit....

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

A really beautiful example of this blend. The quality of the fruit from this vintage is evident from the get-go. Blackcurrant and mulberry with a little richer fruit cake opulence and just a faint hint of minerality. The palate is smooth and medium bodied with a plush mouth feel. This screams for drinking in the next few years while those...

Margaret River

Shiraz

An opulent and lavish shiraz from a year which produced very powerful and intense red wines. Typical of this vineyard, the tannin and oak integration and the supple fruit creates such a velvety smooth and delightful friendly palate. Yet there is depth and intensity here with that typical blackberry and blue fruit mix with a little lightly toasty oak. Another...

Margaret River

Shiraz

Here is a marvellous example of why Windance shiraz continue to be among the very best in Margaret River – actually from anywhere in WA. The seamless integration of fine supple medium bodied fruit, silky tannins and fine-grained oak creates a satiny mouthfeel that is just exquisite. Perfumed violets and cherry on the nose with deeper blackberry and satsuma plum...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The intensity of this chardonnay is evident immediately on the nose. Merging aromas of white peach dominant stone fruit with an underlay of grapefruit and white flower. The palate is so lively and vibrant with a fine chalky thread supporting the deeply presented fruit characters. Integrated and finely balanced palate with a dry savoury classic finish. Lovely wine.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Fruit selection and barrel selection are designed to get the best into the bottle. This is a firmer and more angular style than some previous vintages and a reflection of this vintage. Distinctive aromas of black fruits with a little red fruit lift and a trace of oyster shell minerality. The palate shows a savoury character which complements the deeper...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

A really stylish cabernet dominant blend from this excellent season. Has a leafy blackcurrant aroma with a little blackberry and rich fruit cake. The palate is still pretty tight, but it has excellent structure with a firm thread of tannins holding the line and supported by a decent hit of oak. Needs a little more time to begin to show...

Margaret River

Shiraz

The trick with shiraz viognier is not to get carried away for the highly aromatic viognier. In this case the balance has been struck precisely and the influence is perfectly weighted. The two varieties were co-fermented then matured for 14 months. The nose has a lifted perfume reflecting the viognier with deep plummy notes. The palate is soft and generous...

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

This is a different take on chenin blanc showing another way this excellent variety can be expressed. It was whole bunch pressed to French oak where it was wild fermented with regular lees stirring. It’s all designed to develop complexity and bring out a rich expression of chenin. Lemon zest and stone fruit with a sprinkle of spices. Like this...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A generous and most flavoursome chardonnay that has been worked in the winery to bring out its best. Aromas of butterscotch and lemon curd with ripe stone fruit and roasted nuts all huddling together. The palate is deep and intense with the 10 months battonage having an impact on depth and concentration. Has a nice minerally seashell finish to complete.

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

A wine which demonstrates the versatility of chenin, a variety which is increasingly being seen in sparkling wines these days. The colour is quite golden, but the aroma is fresh and lively with a roasted nut and butterscotch infusion into the light tropical notes. A little biscuit crumble emerges with a sliced apple and cinnamon combination.

Margaret River

Shiraz

There’s a lot going on in this excellent shiraz from Margaret River. The aromas first. There’s a mix of bright red and some blue fruits with dark plum and a lick of licorice. On the palate other nuances emerge with cocoa and mocha plus some nice spices and a little black pepper. This is a stylish medium bodied wine made...

Margaret River

Shiraz

This was a season that produced some excellent soft and generously proportioned red wines, and here is a case in point. Deep plummy colour to start. The nose reveals a beautifully engaging combination of mulberry and dark plum with a lift of light cedary oak. The palate is nicely textured with a grainy feel complementing the well-rounded fruit.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This turned out to be a good season in Margaret River, producing elegantly defined red wines of some refinement. Blackcurrant with a leafy overtone and a little graphite influence. The palate is deeply concentrated but more medium weight with fine tannins in support. A nice juicy cabernet that hits the mark now.

Blackwood Valley

Shiraz

This is a first-rate wine, and clearly one of the best yet under this label. Concentrated aromas of varietal black cherry and blackberry with rich dark plum. A little mocha and cocoa merges. The palate is generous and lavishly presented with spicy dark fruits supported by ripe tannins and a liberal amount of oak. Shows what can be done in...

Blackwood Valley

Shiraz

Smooth, seamless and so, so drinkable. This is a highly enjoyable earlier drinking red offering so much. Aromas of ripe dark fruits with a spicy black pepper lift. The palate delivers a polished performance of plump ripe fruit with balanced support.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A most stylish and elegant cabernet from Margaret River is a year that panned out rather well after a searing start with heat. The aromas are more in the black cherry and blackberry zone while the palate has chalky tannins and fine-grained oak in control. Its medium weight but with good intensity and effortless drive to the long finish.

Blackwood Valley

Shiraz Blend

Highly fragrant aromas announce this as a delightful blend from the Blackwood Valley. Red berry dominance with a neat mix of raspberry and plum. The palate is so soft and supple, with generous plump flavours supported by fine tannins and a lick of oak. It’s a wine for drinking sooner not later as it is so appealing now.

Blackwood Valley

Cabernet Blend

This is a soft and supple cabernet dominant blend from the Blackwood Valley. Has the distinctive regional plushness and volume of fruit with deep blackberry and dark plum characters emerging. Has good structure with fine grainy tannins and a nice touch of oak to assist.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

No mistaking that this is cabernet, Margaret River cabernet. The nose displays that compelling merging of blackcurrant and dark chocolate a little black olive and a ripe plummy richness. The palate is medium weight and seamlessly laced together with fine tannins and oak. A balanced, elegant wine.

Blackwood Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

A cabernet from the Blackwood Valey displaying masses of dark berry, with blackberry and plummy notes dominant. The palate is plush and smooth, striking a good oak and tannin integration. Ideal drinking in the shorter term.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A generous and powerfully framed chardonnay with loads of character. The aromas reveal powerful butterscotch and peachy citrus characters, with a trace of white florals. The palate is rich and lavishly textured by the crisp minerally acidity and fine grained oak controlling through to a precise linear finish. A slightly chalky limestone characters adds further to the finish.

Blackwood Valley

Chardonnay

The fruit for this value for money chardonnay comes from the Blackwood Valley. Punchy aromas of butterscotch and cashew with ripe stone fruits. The palate is rich and textured with a neat balance of frit and oak. It’s an ideal early drinking wine.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The colour is bright with pale golden hues. The nose reveals a mix of butterscotch and stone fruit with a little roasted cashew adding further complexity. The palate shows the influence of barrel fermentation. It’s rich and quite textured with excellent flavour intensity. Lively finish is long and precise.

Margaret River

Sauvignon Blanc

Quite beautiful sauvignon blanc displaying those fresh tropical fruit characters with a liberal sprinkling of dried herbs. The palate is textured and flavoursome with a stone fruit and edgier cut lime nuances balanced and pure. This is great current drinking.

Margaret River

Sparkling

This hits the mark for the light and fresh lightly spritz wine for immediate drinking. Nice fruit intensity on the nose with a spicy orange peel and stone fruit character. The palate is light and fresh with a zingy finishing acidity and a nice lift of spritz.

Frankland River

Shiraz

What a thoroughly delicious and beautiful expression of shiraz from Frankland River. Hand picking and hand plunging point to, well, a hands-on approach with a mix of wild and cultured years. The aroma is distinctly regional with an ironstone minerality working with the bright mulberry and blue fruit characters. The palate has texture with a slightly grainy feel that works...

Western Australia

Chardonnay

A simple fruity chardonnay designed for immediate drinking. It’s zipping with fresh citrus and melon and lightly tropical character. Has a lovely juicy crunchy palate. Clean and crisp with a refreshing acidity to finish.

Western Australia

A punchy and crunchy little number loaded with all manner of tropical fruits on the nose and palate. Aromas deliver a burst of racy citrus and passionfruit with a little gooseberry. The palate has a mouthwatering acidity carrying all those tropical goodies to a long clean finish.

Frankland River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Another thoroughly beautiful exquisitely presented cabernet from Alkoomi. It’s medium bodied but the power and intensity of the cabernet fruit has been captured. This is cool climate cabernet at it’s best with blackcurrant displaying savoury and meaty cedary influences. The tannins are firm and controlling allowing the fruit to extend effortlessly to a very long finish.

Frankland River

Shiraz

Beautiful medium bodied shiraz showing the structure and fruit expression you associate with this region. Spicy ironstone aromas with light plum and mulberry nuances. A little lift on the nose comes with the small addition of viognier. Perfectly integrated oak and fine chalky tannin create the support for a long palate.

Frankland River

Riesling

A really pretty and pristine riesling that says much about this season. Brilliant luminosity in the glass and then aromas of light citrus and spice with a little apple character pounce. The palate is fine and linear with tremendous length. A classically defined riesling and one of the best I can recall in this long line of rieslings.

Swan Valley

Fortified

I remember my first tasting of this this wine many years ago. It was life changing and I’ve been a fan of these Swan Valley fortifieds ever since. Rich and lavishly complex with caramel and dark chocolate with liqueur orange and fruit cake aromas. The palate builds a multi-layered complex richness displaying those leathery, dark fruit cake and syrupy chocolate...