Latest reviews

Margaret River

Chardonnay

An excellent value for money chardonnay offering plenty of deep flavour. Opens with a citrus and stone fruit mix on the nose. Then the palate lifts with stone fruit and a bright lemony acidity. Trace of grapefruit adds to an appealing wine for drinking in the next couple of years.

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Really belts out some decent aromatics of tropical fruit and subtle grassy characters. Palate has plenty of sweet fruit with an intensity driven by a crisp and crunchy acid. A lift of citrus and passionfruit completes the picture. Ideal in the short term.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Loads of dark fruit from this warmer vintage are captured with a deft touch to present with life and vibrancy. The nose displays a complex weave of dark fruits. The palate is quite plush and textured with layers of dark chocolate, rich dense fruits and a little leaf. Firm chalky tannins and well managed oak hold the core through to...

Margaret River

Red Blend

The blend is the Portuguese varieties touriga nacional, tinto cao and sousou. Peterkin has taken a deft approach to gently coax the delightful fragrances and flavours from these varieties. So many things happening on the nose with spicy, cloves and light plum with a subtle chocolate coating. It’s such a vibrant high energy wine with bright fruit flavours lifting from...

Margaret River

Rose

The indelible Nic Peterkin stamp is all over this thoroughly captivating rose style. It’s made from 40-year-old pinot nor and 20% chardonnay from Margaret River. Pressed as whole bunches and then fermented in a combination of French barriques and clay amphora. The chardonnay and pinot were fermented and matured separately until being brought together. Aromas of cranberry and pomegranate with...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A seamlessly crafted Margaret River cabernet where everything just sits together in perfect harmony. Floral notes mingle with substantial blackcurrant aromas. The palate is firmly structured with chalky tannins and plenty of oak from the mix of French and Hungarian. Yet it retains its elegance and refinement. Potential for extended ageing here.

Margaret River

Shiraz

A cleverly made shiraz that reveals what this variety can deliver in Margarett River. It’s co-fermented with a small amount of spicy viognier and then gets a little carbonic maceration, both of which contribute to its perfumed aromas and bright palate. It then gets 17 months in a mix of French and American oak. Velvety smooth palate, yet there is...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A sympathetic traditional approach has been taken to create this excellent Margaret River chardonnay. It’s pressed straight to oak where full solids and indigenous fermentation build palate complexity. A small amount of partial malolactic fermentation has added further richness to the palate. Has a fine pear and light grapefruit edge on the nose with a delicate yet penetrating palate. The...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A slightly fleshy Margaret River cabernet with excellent structure and poise. Dark fruits show blackcurrant and ripe plum with a trace of edgy black olive. The palate is smooth and seamlessly integrated. Chalky tannins and supporting oak complete a tidy wine.

Margaret River

Shiraz

A firm and solid Margaret River shiraz. Earthy plummy notes on the nose. The palate is full and concentrated with dark fruit flavours and a lift of spice. Thick dark chocolate coating on the palate adds a textural feel. Good for a few years in the cellar.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Immediately assails with an intensity of quince and lemon zest against a backdrop of richer lemon curd. The palate displays a degree of delicacy, yet there is intense fruit concentration delivered with finesse. Strikes a nice oak and fruit balance and the finish lifts with a slight savouriness. Nice wine in the short term.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This was quite a challenging season in many ways, being cooler and quite wet. Yet when the fruit has been well managed you finish with top class wines. This is in line with the vineyard and vintage, being slightly angular and fine. Aromas of red currant and muted violet and other floral notes. The structured and quite detailed palate is...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is generally a fine and more delicate chardonnay compared to the Reserve. It works really well in this season, striking the balance between power and finesse. More citrussy than the reserve with notes of stone fruit and popcorn with just a little oyster shell minerality, The crystalline palate is bright and lively with a deep intensity focused keenly to...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Product of the excellent albeit quite small ’22 vintage. Heady stuff on the nose with distinct pear and edgy lime characters with a note of oatmeal and cashew. The palate is layered with nuances emerging at every turn. Has a crystalline edginess that cuts through, while complex flavours of quince, lemon pith and grapefruit reveal. There’s a dry savouriness that...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Typically light bodied pinot from this excellent season. Aromas display a slightly savoury mushroom-like character with a soft cherry and subtle gamey character. A tightly controlled palate is held with fine oak and chalky tannins. Deceptive power drives through to the finish.

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Made in good years and this was a very good year. Lots happening on the nose as a mix of lightly stewed fruit with a lift of gamey meats and cherry takes hold. The palate displays great complexity with a gamey, truffle subtlety merging with the primary cherry and plummy blackberry characters.

Pemberton

Chardonnay

A little more winemaking has gone into capturing the best of this marvellous vintage. A combination of lees stirring in a mix of oaks, several months maturation on lees and partial malolactic fermentation has contributed to its texture and layered complexity. Aromas of stone fruit augmented with a little struck match. The palate is finely integrated with the savoury limey...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

A beautiful vintage has produced fruit of such pristine purity. Light stone fruits of nectarine and white peach with a little pear and cut lime adding their light touches. A light bodied palate but one with elegance and complexity as it extends through to a precise long finish. Neatly crafted wine.

Pemberton

Chardonnay

A fine and delicate style of chardonnay putting a subtle combination of nectarine and peach characters on display immediately. It’s held together with fine grained oak and a fine minerally acidity that helps define the palate. Finishes with a dry savoury touch. A wine for the next few years.

Pemberton

Sauvignon Blanc

A punchy vibrant savvy loaded with all the goodies you expect from this variety. The aromas of gooseberry and slightly herbaceous citrussy notes are classically varietal. There’s a trace of minerality to bring things to life. A clean crisp acidity completes a current drinking wine.

Pemberton

Riesling

A highly fragrant off-dry style of riesling. Loaded with citrus notes of lime with a little spicy lift. Beautiful palate has a gentle feel about it with slightly orange zest characters. Has a clean and pure palate extending to a very long precise finish

Pemberton

Chenin Blanc

A wine that carries a high degree of sweetness, yet the balanced acidity keeps it keen and fine without ever cloying. Notes of citrussy lime dominance with a little orange peel complexity. Beautifully focused finish. Love this style.

Pemberton

Riesling

A pristine and pure dry style riesling displaying delightful floral limey aromas. The palate has a chalky racy sherbet-like character with a subtle degree of tension. Finishes with a precise minerality. Excellent wine now but has cellaring potential.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This was such a great vintage, so little wonder the guys have found plenty of raw material to create this masterful wine that captures everything that was good about the season. It’s powerful but delivers on the medium bodied side of full. So, it’s elegant and most stylish with poise. Dark blackcurrant and bay leaf with a thread of minerally...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

The cooler vintage has resulted in a wine of subtle elegance and precision. Scented notes of blackcurrant and red berry are on display. There’s a little light leaf and black olive character. The palate is seamlessly woven with chalky tannins and a little oak. Flavours of dark chocolate ad plum emerge as it opens up.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Another excellent chardonnay from Grace Farm displaying a fine balance between delicacy and power. It comes together beautifully. Aromas of savoury roasted almond and creamy stone fruit with a little quince and lemon curd. Love the palate structure and the fine minerally savouriness on the finish. A classy wine.

Margaret River

Semillon

I’m always excited to see a straight semillon. It’s a variety that Margaret River does so well, and this is a beauty. Captures the typical lemon scented aromas which merge through into the lively intense fruit on the palate. The fruit intensity is superb, while the high natural acidity ensures it comes to life with so much energy. A super...

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

The influence of a barrel fermented portion is evident immediately on the nose. It introduces a high degree of complexity with a nutty creamy character complementing the vibrant intensity of the sauvignon blanc and semillon. A striking minerality cuts deep through the palate taking it to a very long finish. Has all the pieces to compete a medium erm cellaring...

Margaret River

Shiraz

A wine that nails the modern style of rose. Has plenty of lively fragrant fruit evident immediately on the nose with its fresh strawberry and watermelon characters. The palate is bright and lively with a zingy red fruit character. Persistent through to a long finish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This turned into a very good season in Margaret River with the resulting wines displaying excellent fruit intensity and balance with precise acidity. The cut lime and tart pear aromas capture the reginal characters. A little smoky overlay indicates oak influence. The palate is tightly framed but with good crunchy deep fruit intensity. There’s a fine oyster shell minerality running...

Frankland River

Red Blend

A wine which honours the significant contribution of Dr Harold Olmo in the early stages of the new era of the WA wine industry. It’s a blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and mourvedre. In this case it has the highest proportion of cabernet franc ever used in the blend. Has a beautiful lift of red fruit on the...

Frankland River

Red Blend

A wine which honours the significant contribution of Dr Harold Olmo in the early stages of the new era of the WA wine industry. It’s a blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and mourvedre. In this case it has the highest proportion of cabernet franc ever used in the blend. Has a beautiful lift of red fruit on the...

Frankland River

Mourvèdre

This is just the second release of this varietal. It is a marvelous expression of mourvedre superimposed with the Frankland regional style. The earthy and slightly rustic tones are evident as they work into the grainy medium-bodied fruit. A distinctive iron filings ferrous character is part varietal and partly regional. Super exciting development.

Frankland River

Syrah

A wine that shows the evolution of both style and quality of this now well-established WA syrah. It now has the addition of clone 470 in addition to the original Houghton clone from when it was planted in 1988. A small amount of viognier and mourvedre is also used. The wine was matured for 14 months in a 3500-litre French...

Frankland River

Riesling

This also comes off the Isolation Ridge vineyard. A combination of tank and oak fermentation is used to create its distinctive style. It’s made as an off-dry style after the fermentation is stopped and spends nine months in a combination of tank and old oak. A beautiful wine that reveals characters of spices and a beautiful chalky minerality. The off...

Frankland River

Riesling

One of the very best Isolation Ridge rieslings produced. It’s from an exceptional vintage showing the pristine purity and minerally tension of great rieslings. Comes from a combination of clones planted in 1988. Now this is not your usual riesling. It was left on lees for nine months and about 10% was matured in oak. The result is a wine...

Frankland River

Riesling

This has become one of the most interesting WA wine releases. It’s from the Geisenheim riesling clone close planted on high ironstone and after vinification with no additions it is put into 500l and 1000l old oak where wild yeast fermentation does its magic. So, this is riesling made in the old way, hence the name. Spicy with a creamy...

Great Southern

Chardonnay

I love what Singlefile is doing with their Small Batch wines. You are getting something distinctly different. It’s a generous style displaying intense aromas of butterscotch and toast with lemon tart and ripe stone fruit characters. Has plenty of lees work and malolactic fermentation to build further texture and mouth feel. And the palate length is extraordinary. Hard to put...

Frankland River

Malbec

Delicious, juicy and delightful. This is Great Southern malbec which clearly demonstrates this region’s suitability to the variety. You hear a lot about Mendoza malbec, but you really don't have to go that far to get something world class like this. Plummy blackberry and stewed rhubarb aromas. A little spice and dark chocolate complete the smoothly integrated palate.

Frankland River

Grenache

This has fast become one of my favourite grenaches from anywhere in Australia. It comes off the Riversdale vineyard in Frankland, so its pedigree is impeccable. Perfumed red berry aromas with a little rose petal and earthy spicy nuances. Brilliant and bright medium bodied palate delivers succulent fruit with balancing savoury notes. The tannins and light oak treatment combine to...