Latest reviews

Great Southern

Cabernet Sauvignon

Such an elegant and sleek example of Great Southern cabernet. The aromas show a slightly wild brambly blackcurrant character with lifted spices from the cooler climes. The palate is concentrated with dark fruits and a splash of red. It's more in the medium bodied zone with the thread of graphite and steely minerality holding it to a tight line to...

South West

Chardonnay

This is a blanc de blancs style made from 100% chardonnay. Has a nice crunchy lemon rind and citrus aroma that rolls with distinctive biscuit bready nuances. The palate is light and crisp with a very complete and pleasing mouth feel. There is texture but there is a fine linear feel that makes it such a refined elegant wine.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Provides quite a difference to the Scotsdale. The distinctly linear structure and power of Margaret River are well to the fore, while the aromas of black olive and minerally bay leaf speak of the region. The palate is beautifully woven with fine tannins and neat oak in support. Dark fruits, a little chocolate and an ever so understated minty note...

South West

Chardonnay

This excellent sparkling wine made from South-West chardonnay provides a perfect illustration of how successful Howard Park's investment in sparkling wine has been. This is a complete wine that retains a freshness and purity. It was aged in French oak before bottling and was then left on its lees for 24 months, allowing the palate flavours and richness to develop....

Great Southern

Riesling

The spicy lemon pith of this region emerge immediately with a striking aroma of tremendous intensity. Lemon blossom and zest merge with delightful floral notes. The palate strikes with a minerally bath salts flavour before gathering itself to reach an extended finish. Has the structure and fruit intensity to handled extended cellaring.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

The region, the combination of varieties and the winemaking combine to make a slightly atypical example of Margaret River red, but oh boy, does it work. Super generous and concentrated cabernet and shiraz fill the palate with a blackcurrant, ripe plum and roasted coffee, mocha chocolate richness. The oak is liberally applied to contribute to a style that demands attention....

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Well, there have been some good ‘uns under this label but I reckon this might well be the best. It combines with subtle finesse the power of the fruit with an elegance and refinement to create an exquisite expression of the region. So much is happening in the palate with a merging of butterscotch, roasted nuts, brioche and lemon curd...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This outstanding wine is now sourced from Howard Park's Leston vineyard in Margaret River. It's such an elegant and refined cabernet displaying all the varietal integrity of blackcurrant, bay leaf and a minerally graphite black olive mix. A slightly chalky texture edges in to give the palate a structural feel while the tannins are aligned, contributing to its detail and...

Margaret River

Sauvignon Blanc

Punchy, bright savvy displaying all that crunchy vibrancy you want in this variety but with a controlled restraint. Slightly muted tropical fruit with guava and faint passionfruit influences. There is a creamy mouth feel which appeals.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Continues the recent form for this wine, which is fast becoming one of the best in Margaret River. Intense, concentrated and precisely balanced. The nose has a bright minerally purity with a crunchy honeycomb and butterscotch nuance to the bright lemony grapefruit and subtle quince paste characters. A most impressive chardonnay.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

The aroma is immediately enticing. The scented red fruits work with varietal blackcurrant, while intriguing notes of oyster shell minerality and leafy graphite and light black olive lift effortlessly. A seamlessly integrated balance with fine but firm tannins digging deep through the palate.

Margaret River

Rose

The highly scented aroma of strawberry and raspberry is just so immediately engaging. The fragrant characters are picked up in the lightly framed, but so deliciously flavoursome controlled palate. The bright fruit influence is evident, but the finish is crunchy and bone dry. I could drink a bit of this over summer.

Margaret River

Malbec

Yet another of the superb malbecs being made in WA these days. In this case it was fermented and aged in a concrete egg and subsequently bottled without fining of filtering. The approach has produced a wine of purity and integrity that is a true unhindered representation of the vineyard. Bright and bursting with plush flavours. It's a cracker.

Margaret River

Petit Verdot

A generous and richly textured red wine from a variety that is generally used as a blending option. In this case the dense dark fruits deliver with surprising seamless elegance. Deep red, black colour leads into the scented red fruit perfumes. The palate has a slightly tarry character with rich lingering flavours.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A very tidy cabernet blend. The warmer season has delivered fruit of deep intensity and fruit flavours, which have been captured by the approach of using a basket press with about 14 months in French oak. Plummy blackcurrant fruit combination on the nose with a palate that has structure and poise A leafy lift on the finish completes the wine.

Margaret River

Shiraz

Super value wine from this very good season. The colour is deep and almost opaque but with a brilliant luminosity. Spicy black pepper lives the deep plummy palate. It's rich and lavish with a dense concentration of dark plummy blackberry fruit flavours. Balanced and perfectly integrated.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a most beautiful and engaging chardonnay. It was a hot vintage, but the early picked chardonnay has come out really well. Aromas of jasmine cracked seashell and light lemon essence. The palate is so precisely defined and linear with deep penetration and length. A light crunchy cordite edge on the finish. A finer and more elegantly refined style...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A blend of 90% cabernet and 10% malbec. An elegantly crafted wine from this cooler vintage. Blackcurrant aromas with dark chocolate and tobacco leaf swirling through a maze of cracked seashell minerality, a trace of graphite and a little olive tapenade. A little of the malbec red fruits brings another dimension. A mighty impressive wine demonstrating the adaptability of Margaret...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

A delicious slightly sweet take on verdelho. Loads of tropical fruit with a splash of citrus and a squeeze of passionfruit pulp. The crisp acid ensures it never cloys, keeping the palate clean and fresh. Excellent spicy food drink.

Swan Valley

Verdelho

A delicious slightly sweet take on verdelho. Loads of tropical fruit with a splash of citrus and a squeeze of passionfruit pulp. The crisp acid ensures it never cloys, keeping the palate clean and fresh. Excellent spicy food drink.

Western Australia

Chardonnay

Such a good value for money chardonnay delivering a beautiful mix of flavours showing nectarine and edgy citrus to balance. It's a fruit-driven wine but a little subtle oak adds the final flourish to complete it.

Great Southern

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is the pinnacle of the Houghton range. It comes from the famous Justin vineyard in Frankland River, where some of the state's finest wines have their genesis. This is one of the most elegant and stylish of any “Jack” yet released, yet there is no shortage of engine room grunt. Chalky iron filing minerality emerge from the dark fruits...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A wine that pays homage to Dr John Gladstones, whose work was largely responsible for the development of Margaret River. This is right up there with any that have been made, coming from a vintage that was well suited to the variety. Leafy blackcurrant fruit with a graphite oyster shell nuance working with a sliver of black olive. It's a...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This really is a terrific chardonnay for this price. After collecting the free run juice, it was initially fermented and matured for 11 months in oak. The intensity of the melony grapefruit sits comfortably with the oak. A little lime and citrus tang provides further palate balance and lift. Racy clean long finish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The low-yielding Block 6 produces fruit of tremendous depth and concentration together with a fine chalky acid that is just perfect for this linear style. The aromas have a slightly crème brulee and lemon tart character, while the subtle savoury citrus mix adds another dimension. That zingy provides the focus towards a long precise finish with good palate intensity.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This builds on the standard cabernet from this year – a wine that was mighty good in its own right. This is from the oldest vines of the property, which makes them some of the oldest in the region. Deep and powerful intense blackcurrant and dark chocolate-coated dark plum aromas. Has a smooth and almost silky palate with a complex...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a variety that always seems to do very well in cooler vineyard areas. In this case it's working wonderfully well from this Karridale vineyard. Has the lift of dried herbs and raspberry aromas. The palate is as good as you will see for this variety in Australia. There is depth and fruit concentration delivered with a degree of...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

From the get-go this is a beautifully appealing and presented chardonnay from down at Karridale. Creamy savoury notes with a little peachy character. The palate is deep and intense showing slightly mealy stone fruit and lemon rind lifted with a subtle lemon zest. A precise chalky acid completes the finish. Excellent.

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

Pretty damn good when you can get a pinot like this for around $20. It shows classic pinot character of dark cherry and slightly earthy, savoury, spicy notes. The cooler southern climes down at Karridale are ideal for pinot. The sweet fruit is balance by nice oak and slightly chalky limestone character. It all makes for excellent drinking.

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

This is a throwback to the very popular wines of the 80s produced with chenin blanc showing a little sweetness. It's variety that can handle this style with the crisp natural acid keeping it lively and clean. Loaded with tropical fruits showing a little peach flavour. Crisp fine acid. Great summer drinking.

Margaret River

Malbec

This is mostly shiraz with smaller contributions from malbec and cabernet. This was a riper warmer year, yet the cooler southern Margaret River region results in a pretty wine of medium body. Delicious, sweet plummy fruit flavours balanced with a little spice and a savouriness on the finish. Nice tight core of chalky tannin and understated oak.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A delightfully elegant and refined cabernet blend from Karridale. There's a bout 38% malbec contributing to the red fruit opulence and 10% shiraz adding further generosity to the middle palate. Highly fragrant with leafy notes working with red fruits. The palate has a tight core supporting a long effortless finish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The fruit, which comes from way down at Karridale, shows the intensity and purity this subregion is known for. Pear and lime with a little lemon zest present on the nose. Then the palate threads with deft precision through to a long fine finish. Has a chalky minerality with subtle roasted cashew characters.

Margaret River

Fortified

A medium bodied elegant and so exotically perfumed vintage fortified style. Bright red fruits on the nose with cherry and mulberry and a slightly spicy lift. The palate is seamlessly woven together, displaying excellent fruit and nice use of spirit. Drinks well now but another 10 years would see it develop nicely.

Margaret River

White Blend

From the outset this small family run producer has made excellent blended whites The vineyard produces fruit of such purity and fruit vibrancy. This is another cracker with the minerally juicy passionfruit flavours augmented with a subtle use of oak through barrel fermentation. A perfect summer drink for now but a couple more years wouldn't hurt it at all.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This was a year when whites excelled. It's all from the Gingin clone with the power and intensity evident, albeit managed to produce a wine of sublime elegance and refinement. I reckon this is as good a Grace Farm chardie as I have seen. Light cereal notes with a limestone minerality on the nose. The palate has a lovely texture...

Margaret River

Malbec

Shows what can be achieved in a cooler season with this variety. It's all been wild fermented with regular hand plunging before pressing to oak for 14 months. It's a lighter bodied style but the red juby and slightly raspberry favours emerge with a thread of chalky tannin and oak in support.

Great Southern

Shiraz

One of the more refined and elegantly structured shiraz from Galafrey suggesting the strong influence of the season. Displays more cracked black pepper over the dusty dry earth nuances flecking the punchier red fruits. The medium weight palate has a silky-smooth integration with fine grained oak and fine slinky tannins.

Great Southern

Riesling

Galafrey uses only free run juice here, which heightens its purity and almost pristine characters. There's a regional and varietal spiciness that works within the citrus and lemon peel nuances on the nose. The palate is fine with a degree of tension balanced with deep riesling intensity. Has a long racy finish.

Great Southern

White Varietal

This highly distinctive aromatic variety is mainly grown in Germany, but it once was very popular in New Zealand before they discovered sav blancs. Tropical aromas with a red apple skin and guava, melon character on the nose. The palate has a spicy edge with good fruit intensity. It works well with spicy Asian food.