Regions

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

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

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

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

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

The intensity and power of the fruit required just a little oak influence to bring it to life. It was one of those vintages where the fruit qualities expressed all their qualities without being overbearing and in your face. This is exquisitely balance and framed with excellent palate intensity and drive. There is a purity here with the light citrus...

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Made as a bright and fresh blended white, but with a little oak adding complexity, especially on the palate. Light lemon and fragrant tropical notes on the nose. The palate is held close, with the lightly applied oak sitting snugly within. Impressively concentrated and intense with a lifted, racy finish. Excellent wine.

Margaret River

Red Varietal

Oh wow. Petit verdot as a solo act is playing more and more from Australian vineyards. And this is a great example of why. Deep dark colours are what you expect. Then the lift of concentrated raspberry and rich dark chocolate speak of the variety. The tannins are ripe but refined and not excessive, allowing them to sit back comfortably...

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

An excellent cabernet which comes from the oldest vines on the property. This is a firm and still tightly framed cabernet, but the warmth and depth of fruit is excellent, revealing great power and poise. Bay leaf and subtle black olive merge with intense blackcurrant and a slight oyster shell minerality. Structured and firm through the palate but the tannins...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Comes from some of the oldest cabernet vines in Wilyabrup. You talk about elegance and refinement; well, here it is in spades. Lifted floral perfumes on the nose with distinctive red berry and light tobacco leaf. Just a little of that minerally oyster shell character. The palate is sublime. Tannins are silky and fine, the oak brilliantly understated, and the...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Another exquisite example of the wonderful wines from the '23 Margaret River vintage. Highly perfumed aromas of black currant, violet, and red-berry nuances. The palate is so seamlessly integrated, with a sublime merging of fruit, oak, and tannin that creates a harmonious whole. There's an effortless poise to the wine that drives through to a long, quite beautiful finish, a...

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

Chardonnay

There is a real intensity and purpose in this excellent chardonnay. But there is elegance and reserve at the same time. Aromas of quince paste and grapefruit with those subtle cashew characters in the background. Beautifully defined palate releases through to a sustained finish with a savoury influence over the dry chalky lemon zip characters.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

These old, low-yielding vines yield fruit of tremendous concentration with balance and deep intensity. Aromas of lemon curd and brioche with a lift of cut pear and lime. The palate is textured and concentrated with deft precision, taking it through to a long finish. A classy wine of distinct regionality.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a super wine that comes off low-yielding mature vines on the property. The aromas are a classic combination of cut lime, pear, and nectarine. The palate is still tightly wound and somewhat shy, but it will evolve, open up, and develop further complexity and layers with age. It's a vibrant, minerally style with tremendous length.

Margaret River

Red Varietal

This is no light damp squib of a cabernet franc. This has some grunt and structure, but doesn’t betray the lifted perfumes and high energy of the palate. Bright red fruit fragrances with a subtle leafy component. The palate is medium bodied but with excellent tannin and fruit balance supported by judicious use of oak. Poised and long palate.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

An impeccably stylish and beautifully poised cabernet from these old vines in a very good year. It's pure Margaret River with its blackcurrant and bay leaf graphite aromas displaying a distinctive regionality. The palate is linear and focussed with excellent intensity and depth. Fine chalky tannins and a well-managed oak regime complete a terrific wine that is great value.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A hot early vintage which finished well, produced excellent wines of colour, fruit intensity and power without excessive tannins. This is right on the money. Loaded with blackcurrant and plummy characters presented with vibrancy and brightness. Balanced use of oak complements the fine chalky tannins. Excellent medium-term wine.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

An elegantly crafted and presented cabernet from this excellent season. Lifted leafy red berry with a little bay leaf and black olive augmented with more primary red fruits. The concentrated, balanced palate delivers with precision and focus. It’s a medium-bodied wine that is ideally suited to drinking in the first few years.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

You certainly know you're in the Margaret River zone from the first take on the nose. Lifted black currant, light cedar, and a subtle bay-leaf nuance. The palate is medium weight but with beautifully poised, balanced fruit and oak working seamlessly together. The tannins are quite fine and chalky, making for a very complete package: a quality wine presented with...

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

A bright and fragrant chardonnay sourced from mature vines on the estate. After wild fermentation it saw 11 months in oak. The result is a delightful light-bodied but well-flavoured wine of subtlety and precision. Aromas of melon and lightly roasted cashew with a gentle lemon lift. The palate extends with a slightly savoury minerality through to a long finish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is certainly one of the better chardonnays I have seen at this stage from the 2024 vintage. The quality of fruit is evident immediately, and its vibrancy and energy probably come from the earlier picking before the heat struck with a vengeance. Powerful grapefruit with more delicate touches of apple and peach and a final citrusy lift on the...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

I have to say, this is one of the most complex and intriguing of any of the Hay Shed Hill chardonnays I've seen over the years. It comes off some pretty mature vines these days and spent 11 months in French barriques after fermentation. It has a fairly typical light stone-fruit, savory nuance with a touch of burnt-caramel complexity. Fine...

Margaret River

Red Blend

This is a great-value blend of the main Bordeaux varieties, with cabernet franc providing the dominant contribution. It's lively with great fruit, soft, almost supple, and with very fine, gentle tannins providing subtle support. Bright, plummy blackcurrant fruits with an ethereal lift of red fruits and bright florals. Such a supple, easy-drinking wine of medium weight but immense generosity.

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

A Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot, recognising the early work of Bordeaux lovers Barry and Liz Morrison. It’s a delightful medium-bodied, elegantly structured wine displaying lively red berry lift and a bright high energy palate. Light chalky finish completes a neat little wine.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Hay Shed Hill Morrison’s Gift chardonnay 2023 ($25) Made in honour of the early contribution of Barry and Liz Morrison. This is a lightly framed chardonnay based on excellent fruit that has been gently managed through the winery. The aim is for a light, balanced wine that expresses the fruit without too much winemaking evidence. Works well. Score: 89/100 Cellar:...

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

Pale onion-blush colour, suggesting immediately a modern style of Australian rosé. The pinot was whole-bunch pressed, with only the lightest-coloured juice kept to produce a highly fragrant and aromatic, dry, savory style of rosé. It's fine, with nice texture held by a fine acidity that extends through to a sustained finish. A nice current-drinking rosé.

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Here's a wine that captures so much about this style from Margaret River in a very good season. A lovely combination of typical gooseberry and citrus notes with a touch of grassiness, and a palate with surprising texture and richness that ultimately delivers vibrant, energetic fruit.

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

This is a superb example of the style, made from some of the oldest semillon and sauvignon blanc vines in the region. It displays engaging fruit intensity with vibrant energy, supported by gentle use of oak, striking a really perfect balance with a slightly creamy texture and fine, persistent lemony acidity for energy and lift through to the finish. Drinking...

Margaret River

Shiraz Blend

The warmer '24 vintage seems to have suited this wine, which has been a consistent performer for Hay Shed Hill over many years. Loads of black fruit, licorice, and dark cherry, with a vibrant raspberry nuance that adds lift through the middle palate. It's supple and generous, with gentle use of oak complementing a wine ideally suited for drinking in...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a multi-regional blend made from fruit from Margaret River, the Swan Valley and Frankland River. It's an elegant medium-to full-bodied wine with great fruit generosity, loads of dark fruit characters initially on the nose with a lifted bay leaf edge. The palate is seamless and supple with a slightly grainy tannin influence.

Swan Valley

Chenin Blanc

Wonderful floral, perfumed white-petal notes on the nose announce this as Swan Valley chenin blanc. In a warmer year, the aromas and flavours are certainly well to the fore, but they're well controlled, with freshness retained by the crisp, lively acidity. The palate has lovely texture and richness, but there's also a purity and pristine character as it fires through...

Swan Valley

Shiraz

This is such a pretty and quite beautiful shiraz from vines that are approaching 100 years of age. It does show the Swan Valley softness and suppleness well to the fore. And with those soft tannins and gentle hint of oak, it really does cuddle the wine. Nice mix of sweet cherry and raspberry with little coffee grounds and liquorice....

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

An impressive wine from this warm vintage in Margaret River. Comes off vines that are among the oldest in the region, and it is remarkably stylish and elegant given that this was a very warm vintage. But these old vines have clearly worked their magic. Lovely aromas of blackcurrant and dark chocolate with a little black olive tapenade. The palate...

Blackwood Valley

Cabernet Blend

A supple, gentle, easy-drinking red wine capturing this lovely vintage and all its fruitful glories. A little mix of blackcurrant and dark fruitcake with some nice savoury spices. Medium-bodied and juicy, with vibrant red fruits, supported by some fine tannins and just a subtle persuasion of oak. Neatly presented wine.

Blackwood Valley

Chardonnay

This wine is just starting to show some nice, subtle developed characters, but it's still largely a vibrant, fresh, fruit-driven wine. Aromas of cut pear and grapefruit with a little lemony zip. The palate is developing a subtle nutty influence that works neatly with the vibrant white fruits. Excellent wine for drinking over the next couple of years.

Blackwood Valley

Sauvignon Blanc

This Blackwood Valley vineyard produces really exciting, vibrant, punchy, aromatic whites, and this is a classic example. Bursting with lemon zest and floral, tropical notes on the nose, with a touch of cut pear. The palate is zippy, with beautiful, racy, lifted acidity driving through to a long finish. A perfect summer drink.

Blackwood Valley

Red Blend

Needless to say, a very young and vibrant blend of these two varieties. viognier has added an attractive spicy, gingery lift to the rich but medium-weight plummy flavours and aromas. Deliciously seamless, with a plummy black cherry flavour combination and very subtle, fine chalky tannins adding some support. Great current drinking.

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

If you think you’ve seen chenin blanc, then think again. This is quite a different spin on a variety that has been so important to West Australian wines, and obviously to Houghton Winery in particular. Hence the name EV37, which is a reference to the first Houghton white burgundy that was released and made by Jack Mann in 1937. This...