Latest reviews

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A stylish and generous cabernet from the '18 vintage. The extra time in bottle has allowed things to settle down nicely. Dark blackcurrant with a pronounced minerality of oyster shell and bay leaf merged with some regional black olive. The palate is tightly coiled but with good flesh and fruit intensity. Support comes from the fine powdery tannins and that...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A most approachable blend of sauvignon blanc, semillon and chardonnay with just a light touch of oak to brings some palate complexity. The name is reference to winemaker Cath Oates close encounter with a Great White. It's an appealing with excellent flavour and a defining acidity to sustain the finish.

Margaret River

Tempranillo

The tempranillos from Oates Ends are consistently some of the best in the State. This one from the warm '22 vintage is yet another. The riper vintage has resulted in bright plump juicy fruit which is what you want with this variety. Cherry and raspberry notes with a dusty earthy influence. Great current drinking and if you want to chill...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Beautifully framed chardonnay. There is a minerally purity about the aromas in the first instance. Peach and grapefruit with a lemony edge create an engaging start The palate displays deep fruit intensity which has been keenly handled with some nice oak treatment. Has a creamy butterscotch and lemon curd character which is neatly understated. Lovely wine.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

An effortless and most stylish cabernet expression of the 2020 vintage. The nose speaks Margaret River cabernet with its graphite, blackcurrant and minerally aromatics clearly evident. The palate is more medium bodied but still packs a cabernet punch. Tight chalky tannins with some perfectly tuned fine-grained oak harmonise with the silky smooth fruit to produce a refined finish.

Swan Valley

Verdelho

Want to see how good verdelho can be in the Swan Valley, then tuck into this beauty. Named in honour of the Yukich's grandfather, who was an early grower in the Swan. It is a fitting tribute as it captures all the flavour and punch that has become synonymous with this variety. Keen crisp acid lifts the finish.

Perth Hills

Shiraz

Beautifully constructed and presented shiraz. Captures the soft and supple characters of this variety and then with a little oak and the natural tannins it powers through to the finish. A most stylish and polished shiraz with a highly scented aroma and a soft and generous palate supported by a chalky acidity.

Swan Valley

Sparkling

Chenin is becoming an increasingly popular variety for sparkling wines. This one absolutely nails it. The fragrance of fresh fruit with a lemon melon twist is captivating. The palate delivers a clean crisp and highly refreshing combination with texture and energy.

Swan Valley

Rose

Opens with an invasion of bright light red fruit aromas. Lots of raspberry and strawberry things happening. The palate is light with good flavour. A deliciously appealing rose style with a modern restrained tweak to make it interesting.

Swan Valley

Grenache

Oh my. This medium-bodied combination captures so much about the drinking qualities of these varieties in the Swan Valley. Seductive perfumes on the nose engage immediately. The palate is soft and supple with abundant red fruit over a deeper plumminess. Such an appealing red wine for immediate drinking.

Swan Valley

White Blend

A really zingy fresh blended white with more than a hint of the old Houghton White Burgundy in it. Racy tropical flavours with a slight grassy edge and a crisp minerally acidity to clean and sustain. Excellent current drinking.

Swan Valley

Chardonnay

Here is your ready to drink at any time chardonnay. It's a perfect afternoon quaffer with some nice seafood on the barbecue. Creamy stone fruit delivered with subtle restraint. Lifted by lemon and quince paste on the nose. Flavoursome palate.

Western Australia

Cabernet Sauvignon

Crazy, crazy, that a cabernet with this much style and personality should be selling for less than $15. But, it is. The blackcurrant and plummy combination opens on the nose and swells into the palate. It's so smooth and velvety yet there is ample structural tannin and crisp acid to control and direct the finish.

Geographe

Red Varietal

Hutton gets the fruit for this cracking little vermentino from Geographe. It's a variety that is ideal in Australia and an alternative in many ways for riesling. Has a light lemon sherbet-like aroma with citrus and crunchy pear nuances. The palate is crisp and clean with just enough textural creaminess.

Swan Valley

Verdelho

It stands to reason that if chenin is good, then verdelho will to. And here's the proof. Super punchy and vibrant flavours emerge from the nose and then into the palate. Loads of tropical fruit, with melon and pear and a nice lemon rind edge. Pure and fragrant with abundant flavour on the long finish.

Swan Valley

Chenin Blanc

A love chenin blanc and when you put some bubbles in it, I reckon I love it even more. This one shows the flavours and punch of this tropical fruit-laden variety with the crisp natural acidity that makes it ideal for sparkling wines. Fresh flavoursome with wonderful fruit.

Swan Valley

Rose

Pale pink and light crimson colour delivers a bright burst from the bottle. Perfumed and scented with red berry displaying touches of cranberry and watermelon. The light palate reveals the strawberry and melony red fruits with a slight savoury edge.

Swan Valley

Chenin Blanc

The best parcels of chenin on the property are handpicked for this exceptional chenin blanc. The extra time in bottle has allowed the fruit palate to build more flavour with the melon and creamy pear characters starting to open up. Has a subtle vanilla pod on the finish with that lemon butter influence.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The Geographe region demonstrates its versatility with this excellent chardonnay. An aroma of lemon butter, roasted cashew and light quince paste greets immediately. Then the palate starts to unravel its own secrets with its texture and rich intensity. Strikes such a good oak and fruit balance, with the precision on the finish heightened by a minerally chalky acidity.

Western Australia

Tempranillo

There is a United Nations of varieties here with Italy, Spain, Sicily, Argentina and France all having a role. Exotic mix that is bursting with plush ripe red fruits with a lift of spices and dried herbs. Well-structured palate with fine chalky tannins and a little oak in harmony. The deep red to black fruits are supremely balanced, with the...

Western Australia

Shiraz

A bright and vibrant immediately appealing blend of shiraz, malbec and grenache from three different regions. Aromas of spicy plums and juby red fruit with a touch of confectionary. The palate is medium weight with a fine thread of tannins and a subtle ironstone rusty nail complexity – without the nails. Seamless and beautifully integrated.

Swan Valley

Chenin Blanc

A wonderful example of the fruit purity and flavours that have most in the Valley saying this might be the best year yet for chenin. No argument from me, Has the melon and citrus honeysuckle mix that is quintessential chenin. The flavour is endless with that crisp natural fine acidity providing energy and lift. A super wine at a nutty...

Blackwood Valley

Chardonnay

A creamy fresh young chardonnay offering plenty. Aromas of melon and light stone fruit with a lemony lift. The palate is generous and largely fruit-driven through to a sustained clean finish.

Perth Hills

Zinfandel

This is a variety that is generally made big, bold and alcoholic. Yet this marvellous wine is anything but. It is more medium weight with an elegance you just don't normally see. Once again a combination of oak and ceramic eggs have been used. It works so well, preserving and displaying the wild fruit aromatics on the nose and creating...

Perth Hills

Red Varietal

Everything possible has been done to preserve all the crisp fresh flavours of this Italian variety that Myattsfield does so well. Crisp pear and green apple with a citrus tang to lift. It's flavoursome but with a distinct linear mouthfeel heightened by a fine crisp acidity.

Perth Hills

Shiraz

A beautifully elegant medium weight shiraz displaying thoroughly engaging aromas of wild berry and red fruit with a spicy lift. The cooler season has resulted in a palate that is less opulent but so precisely defined and linear. Has a subtle steely edge through the mid palate. The use of a mix of American oaks really seems to complement the...

Perth Hills

Rose

Terrific rose style. It's the palest of pale pinks, but then a burst of perfumed fruits greet on the nose. It's a combination of mourvedre, sangiovese and viognier. That viognier adds the distinctive spicy aromatic lift. Nice complementary mix of rose petal and raspberry with a slightly savoury finish. Excellent.

Perth Hills

Red Varietal

This central Italian variety as found a perfect home in the Perth hills. This is one of the few made in Australia, and it is one of the best. Soft and supple with rich plump dark fruit flavours. After open fermentation it goes into a combination of ceramic eggs and hogsheads. The result is an integrated seamless and supple palate...

Perth Hills

Durif

It's a bold statement of this variety, yet it presents with poise and polish. It's a rich and dense wine with masses of wild black fruit flavours merged with oak. Ripe plum, mulberry and chocolate all swirling rough the palate creates quite a combination. Interesting fact is that this was made during Covid, and the fruit was picked by Wine...

Margaret River

Semillon

Remains one of my favourite Moss Wood wines, and certainly one of my favourite semillons. And this one from the great '23 vintage is right up there with anything. It seems a more pungent and intense semillon than previous years and probably a result of the vintage which produced such beautiful fruit intensity. Pure and driven with a lip-smacking acidity...

Margaret River

Merlot

When Australia's finest merlots are discussed this one must be in the mix. Recent vintages have been stunning, and I have to say this one, which combines the concentrated intensity of the small 2020 vintage with such supreme elegance, is as good as any released and that includes the 2018. In fact, stylistically, I think this velvety smooth, perfumed and...

Margaret River

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon blanc that takes you into another zone. Full malolactic fermentation contributes to its rich generous creamy texture while the use of oak, with about 6% new, adds a defining lift through the palate. The nose offers all manner of things from melon, spices and pear with a varietal gooseberry note. On the palate you get into even more, with...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a decidedly fresh and fragrant chardonnay that provides quite a point of difference to the standard Moss Wood. It's made in exactly the same way yet the Ribbon Vale vineyard speaks its individuality. It's flavoursome with light stone fruit and a more subtle creamy vanilla bean character. The palate is generous and full, yet the nectarine and lime...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Another stunner from the 2020 vintage. This vintage shows slightly more sweet fruit than some previously, yet the firm tannin core remains a structural feature that is part vineyard and part season. Plenty of dark fruits woven with a trace of black olives, bay leaf and oyster shell minerality. So balanced and expressive with an effortlessly long finish.

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

This cooler vintage was ideal for pinot from this part of Margaret River. Perfumed and highly scented aromas of strawberry and sour cherry with a slightly truffly influence. The velvety palate captures that iron fist in a velvet varietal character. Smooth and seamless with a gossamer like sheen. Beautiful.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Another cracking good chardonnay from Moss Wood. The aroma is immediately engaging with a floral lemon scent and a slight vanilla bean essence. Subtle cut lime and pear edge into add some further complexity. The palate is a powerful statement with a deeply intense creamy stone fruit and edgy lemon rind combination working together. Gathers momentum towards a long finish.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Another simply sublime edition of this great wine. The volume of fruit was down almost 60% but the small berry influence has added even more intensity and depth, if that is possible with this wine. Interesting point of difference is that the combination is slightly different from previous vintages with 90% cabernet sauvignon, 3% cabernet franc and 7% petit verdot....

Margaret River

Semillon

A style of wine you seldom see in WA, let alone in Margaret River. It's a sweet dessert style wine but it has been made in a way that controls the palate, so it remains deep and sweet yet never becomes cloying. Retains a fresh zingy acidity. Distinctive aromas of orange peel and marmalade, honey and a little butterscotch with...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

If you're looking at an entry point into the wonderful wines of Moss Wood then this classy wine is just perfect. It's a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec and petit verdot. Firm dark fruit delivered with typical grace and style. Has a beautiful lift and vibrance which carries effortlessly to a long finish.

Great Southern

Chardonnay

These lighter bodied elegant and quite delicate chardonnays have been very good from Monty's Leap. This is certainly delicate but 100% barrel fermentation with about 25% new and time on lees has produced a textured fine chardonnay with a beautifully defined palate. Nectarine and other stone fruits with a light buttery cashew character are lifted by a saline acidity.