Regions

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Another cracking chardonnay. The vintage was very good, and the result is superb. It gets the treatment with wild yeast, whole bunch pressing and barrel fermentation. Has a slightly savoury saline combination on the palate with a subtle roasted cashew and cereal influence. On top is a trace of tangy sliced pear and lemon rind. A very good wine.

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...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Wow, this is a mighty good wine for $40. There is real class here from whichever way you look at it. The aromas are a minerally sea spray and light citrus experience that are so engaging. The energy and bright chalky acidity is a feature which is a result of no malolactic fermentation. But the texture has been built in...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Another cracking chardonnay with delightful purity, minerality and bright floral notes on the nose. It was barrel fermented with wild yeasts before spending nine months in oak, during which the barrels were stirred regularly. The result is a wine of impressive complexity, evident in the subtle cereal notes on the palate, complemented by oyster shell minerality and light stone fruit...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Plenty of punch and intensity in this cabernet sauvignon-dominant blend, given extra complexity by small additions of malbec and petit verdot. Around 20% new oak has been used, an impressive inclusion at this price. Black currant and plum aromas are supported by lightly toasty oak. The palate is generous with ripe blackcurrant fruit, while the firmer tannins, typical of the...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

You're getting a fair amount of high-quality chardonnay at this price with some serious winemaking. It was 100% barrel-fermented with wild fermentation, but no malolactic fermentation with the aim of retaining that fresh, zingy acidity and vibrancy. It has had the influence of lees, which has been stirred regularly to build in a textural completeness. Lemony grapefruit notes on the...

Margaret River

Rose

Super light bodied rose perfect for summer drinking. The colour is typically pale pinkie orange peel. The aromas show a slightly savoury red currant character. Then the palate delivers with a slightly textural feel but still with a racy zingy energy. Good to go right now.

Margaret River

Shiraz

The colour is a pale salmon pink, while the nose is a bright combination of strawberries, spice and a splash of cranberry. The palate is crunchy and light-bodied, yet delivers impressive flavour intensity. It finishes crisp, fine and refreshing, making it ideal for current drinking. A terrific modern Australian rosé made from shiraz.

Margaret River

White Blend

A pure and delightful expression of this great value for money and highly drinkable style from Margaret River. Loaded with a tropical fruit and a lightly herbaceous combination of fruits. Has a clean and crisp zingy finish. Ready for current drinking.

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

You know you're in Margaret River from the first wave on the nose. Citrusy spice, and loads of zesty, limey passionfruit. This is simply made as a drink now no-brainer, and it delivers perfectly on what you want. All tropical, yet with a degree of delicacy, and a fresh, zingy finishing acidity.

Margaret River

Shiraz

You’re getting a decent bang for your buck with this excellent value red wine. Red fruits with a subtle spicy aromatic which probably stems from a small portion of viognier. Palate is firm with a fleshy cloak of fruit supported by a little new French oak. Plenty of ripe fruits on the palate with a mix of blackberry and dark...

Margaret River

Malbec

The warmer season seems to have suited this variety particularly well. It's predominantly malbec with a 10% contribution of cabernet sauvignon, providing structural support through the middle palate. The nose is intensely concentrated with spicy, chocolatey aromas layered over bright red fruits. The palate is plush and generous with rich plummy flavours and a touch of dark chocolate richness. It...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

There have been some wonderful 2020 cabernets from Margaret River but none better than this. What a glorious statement of the region and a great vintage. Highly perfumed aromas of mulberry, dark chocolate and blackcurrant with a little plum and dried herb edging in. The palate is full-bodied with immense power. Black fruit, dark plum and some wild berry action...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is sourced from three different vineyards, each of which is more than 20 years old. A superb vintage has perfectly set up this fabulous example of Margaret River cabernet. It has it all, the power, blackcurrant, bay leaf, seamless integration and concentration. The aromas of floral over blackcurrant and red fruits are immediately compelling. Into the palate and the...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This is another of the wines I awaited with some degree of expectation, and like pretty much every cabernet out of twenty-three, it has not failed to deliver. It has exceeded my expectations. It's a blend of 92% cabernet, with equal proportions of malbec and petit verdot, and comes from a number of different vineyard areas, including Wilyabrup, Wallcliffe, and...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This was a vintage with some challenges largely as a result of rain and resulting humidity. It meant the vignerons were busy getting the fruit to the sorting table in top condition. Thankfully, that has been done and the result is an exceptional wine. After handpicking the fruit is whole bunch pressed and then 100% barrel fermented in oak of...

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...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Stunning wine displaying elegance and power in a perfectly structured and presented frame. Aromas of typical pear, florals and a little slaty minerality emerge immediately. The palate is slick and precise but with a deep complexity revealing a combination of citrus, grapefruit and a slightly saline pebbly character. It’s a result of the best barrel selection, and the brightness and...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a single vineyard chardonnay, with all of the fruit off the original Lagan Estate vineyard that was planted back in seventy-seven. It's a wine of tremendous power and poise, with layered complexity and richness. The regular lees stirring over nine months has heightened this complexity and built a textural character into the wine. As always, winemaker Glenn Goodall...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This was a very early vintage in Margaret River with the added issue of trying to get this done right at the start of Covid. But it's as if nothing missed a beat, with the wine a triumph for vineyard and region. Black fruit on the nose with a subtle confectionery compote character. The palate is medium to full bodied...

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

Cabernet Sauvignon

The season started late, but oh my, it produced some exceptional wines. This powerful and structured cabernet from this vineyard just south of Margaret River town is a masterful wine. The colour is so brilliant and bright and then the aromas reveal a marvellous combination of red and black fruits with typical bay leaf and minerally graphite. A wave of...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Yet another sublime example of the incredible quality that emerged from the 2023 vintage. This is a blend of 88% cabernet and 12% malbec from the southern Margaret River vineyard. The aroma is a mix of blackberry and redcurrant, with lifted floral notes and a subtle oyster shell minerality. The palate is bright and medium-bodied, but with tremendous depth, intensity,...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This always provides a distinct point of difference with the Reserve chardonnays, in that it is somewhat finer and more delicate yet it is all the powerhouse Gingin clone. The nose is a whirl of white peach and nectarine with plenty of edgy citrus characters with a trace of chalky minerality. There's even a trace of sea spray. The palate...

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

Such a delicately structured yet still powerfully intense chardonnay from this outstanding vineyard, which in a good year like this, positively shines. The nose opens with typical light stone fruits, a slice of pear and a trace of grapefruit. But the palate is the thing. It is both textured and linear with deep stone fruit, minerally saline and citrus. There...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

It was a hot season, but the early picking of this variety and its southern Margaret River location has resulted in a wine that is so well balanced and intense. The fruit was whole bunch pressed and then all barrel fermented, with the fermentation allowed to occur naturally. All French oak, with about twenty percent new, and it spent about...

Margaret River

Malbec

A tiny production malbec from this vineyard that is definitely worth getting your hands on. Well trying to anyway. The colour initially is brilliant and bright with a bursting pulse of red and light crimson. Love the mix of red and black fruits on the nose with a floral dark chocolate infusion. Then the palate. It’s seamlessly structured with super...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

The cooler vintage has contributed to a wine of style and elegance, yet still displaying the essential varietal blackcurrant and light bay leaf characters. A little graphite minerality emerges on the nose. The palate is so well balanced with chalky tannins complementing the mix of black olive and blackcurrant fruit flavours. Nice subtle use of oak.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A generous but medium-bodied cabernet. From a vintage which turned out to be excellent, especially for these reds. The nose is a beautiful mix of black currant and spicy leafy notes. The palate has a deliciously rich, chocolatey black currant flavour, backed up with some fine tannin threads and well-weighted oak. Has good structure and intensity and captures cabernet nicely,...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A generous but medium-bodied cabernet. From a vintage which turned out to be excellent, especially for these reds. The nose is a beautiful mix of black currant and spicy leafy notes. The palate has a deliciously rich, chocolatey black currant flavour, backed up with some fine tannin threads and well-weighted oak. Has good structure and intensity and captures cabernet nicely,...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a remarkably classy chardonnay that captures the elegance and brightness of the vintage. It was barrel fermented, with about 15% new French oak, using wild yeasts before spending nine months on lees without undergoing malolactic fermentation. The result is a pure, bright and precise wine showing minerally aromas of cut lime and grapefruit. The palate is spicy and...

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

So many good chenin blancs emerging these days. Here is a lighter and less obviously fruity style, but one that is eminently drinkable and refreshing. Has a tighter apple and melon character with a splash of citrus. Keen and linear palate with a racy crisp finish.

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

Another example of how this variety can manifest itself in so many different regions, producing wines of subtle differences, but always with impressive quality. In this case, the wine's been worked with wild yeasts and some older barrel influence with regular lees stirring. So, you're getting chenin blanc with the natural vibrant acidity offset and balanced with some supple palate...

Margaret River

White Blend

This is a really well made 75/25 blend in this super season for white varieties. A 22% portion was wild fermented in new French oak and there was regular lees stirring of all components over three months. Nice lemony aromas with a faint hint of gooseberry. The palate is textured and intensely flavoured with the oak neatly weighted in support....

Margaret River

Xanadu Vinework semillon 2023 ($30) This is made into a keen crisp style with every effort to retain its vibrant lively lemony fruit characters. The nose shows that distinctive lemon scent of semillon with just a trace f riper stone fruit in the background. Tea ate beautifully weighted with a fine acid sustaining a lingering finish. Ideal for drinking in...

Margaret River

Shiraz

A bright, generous, lively, medium-bodied shiraz with loads of plummy black fruits and a lift of cherry-dominated red fruits. There's a hint of spice and a sprinkle of pepper. The palate is soft and supple, with fine yet supportive tannins. Plenty of rich flavour is crammed into its medium-bodied frame, and the finish is effortlessly long. Mighty good value Margaret...

Geographe

Tempranillo

Take me back to Spain. Okay not all the way back but there is a lot to like about this interpretation of the famous Spanish variety. Bursts of red fruit with raspberry and cherry sprinkled with spices. The palate is soft and quite supple but with enough tannin and light oak to provide the structure and direction. A super food...

Margaret River

White Varietal

A fine and quite delicate style that has emerged from the heat of the 24 summer. Certainly, shows the resilience of the variety. A burst of apple and pear with a citrus edge open proceedings. The palate is keen and crisp with a slightly textured feel. Nice wine for immediate drinking.

Margaret River

Viogner

Xanadu Vinework viognier 2023 ($30) No mistaking the distinctive aromas of apricot and ginger with a little musk stick all pointing to a clear statement that this is viognier. Palate is typically spicy and zesty with a trace of lychee and peachy melon. It’s a more restrained version and ideal for drinking early. Score: 90/100 Cellar: 3 years