WA Wine Review 2025

Mount Barker

Cabernet Franc

A variety that works well in cooler regions, but still needs to be ripe, which in this season wasn’t a problem. The perfumed red fruits of raspberry and mulberry with a little violet scent working in are just beautiful. The palate is a striking feature. It has structure and poise but with a typical varietal elegance. One of the better...

Mount Barker

Chardonnay

A beautifully fragrant and delightfully presented chardonnay from this excellent season. The nose is a merging of vanilla bean and lemon curd with a light nectarine-like influence. The palate is so well balanced with a fine precise feel. Just a little light toast adds to the finish.

Mount Barker

Nebbiolo

One of the trickier varieties to produce in Australia, with the tannin balance and management the key. In this case it’s been expertly handled. Typical red fruits on the nose with the raspberry, rose petal and strawberry nuances capturing the variety. The palate is light in colour but there is plenty of engine room grunt here as it drives to...

Mount Barker

Pinot Noir

Such a pretty, yet powerful statement of Mount Barker pinot. It is clearly as good as any yet from 3 Drops, with the season providing the ideal base for its creation. Aromas of dark cherry and a perfumed strawberry nuance with an array of spices adding allure. The palate captures the variety. There is a soft plushness here, yet there...

Mount Barker

Riesling

Another first-rate riesling from this small Mount Barker producer. From the start, riesling has been a consistent standout, and even in this very season, the quality is excellent. It is one of the best rieslings I have tasted from this vintage. Fine and linear with a lively energised aroma and palate. Lemon zest and spicy bath salts with a crisp...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

A delightfully fruit and flavoursome chardonnay designed for drinking in the short term. Lifted melon and citrus with a gentle hint of vanilla bean on the nose. The palate has a slight butterscotch and lemon curd richness with the crisp acid taking through to a crunchy vibrant finish.

Pemberton

Pinot Grigio

If you’re into your pinot grigio then this little guy is just the ticket. Has a slightly pinkish colour which you can get with this variety. Spicy apple and pear with a little crumbly biscuit on the nose. The palate has is textured with the crisp acid sustaining a clean finish.

Frankland River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Another thoroughly beautiful exquisitely presented cabernet from Alkoomi. It’s medium bodied but the power and intensity of the cabernet fruit has been captured. This is cool climate cabernet at it’s best with blackcurrant displaying savoury and meaty cedary influences. The tannins are firm and controlling allowing the fruit to extend effortlessly to a very long finish.

Frankland River

Riesling

A really pretty and pristine riesling that says much about this season. Brilliant luminosity in the glass and then aromas of light citrus and spice with a little apple character pounce. The palate is fine and linear with tremendous length. A classically defined riesling and one of the best I can recall in this long line of rieslings.

Frankland River

Shiraz

Beautiful medium bodied shiraz showing the structure and fruit expression you associate with this region. Spicy ironstone aromas with light plum and mulberry nuances. A little lift on the nose comes with the small addition of viognier. Perfectly integrated oak and fine chalky tannin create the support for a long palate.

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

Wow. You won’t be able to put this one down. Exotic perfumes of bright red berries with a little minerally earthy nuance before the final lift of violet showing the subtle influence of a small amount of cabernet franc. The palate is pure indulgence with supple fruit wrapped around a fine thread of tannin and a gentle touch of oak....

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The crystalline purity and balance of the ’23 vintage has been brilliantly captured in this super chardonnay from Jeremy Gordon. Intense aromas of grapefruit and lemon curd with a savoury saline combination. The palate delivers with deep concentration and precision that extends to an endlessly long finish with a final savoury flourish. The maturation on lees with regular stirring has...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

Has been one of the standout performers in this tasting over many years. From the super 23 vintage, this is a perfectly presented blend with loads of medium bodied sweet fruit balanced with a sliver of oak and a fine gentle tannin influence.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A bright and lively chardonnay displaying some most attractive melon and citrus aromas with a floral lift. The palate is precise yet flavoursome. And sitting behind that fruit is the impact of wild fermentation and six months in oak. So even at this budget end there is plenty of thought that’s gone into creating a great value drink.

Margaret River

Grenache

It seems that roses generally fared pretty well in the hot months of this very hot vintage. Lift of rose petals and spicy cranberry. The palate is slightly textured but with vibrant energised fruit. Nice wine in the next couple of years.

Margaret River

White Varietal

This Iberian Peninsula variety is a bit of a rarity in Australia. It's given some impressive treatment including whole bunch pressing to stainless steel and then time on lees to bring definition and richness to the palate. Captures the textural feel of this variety with its slightly nutty saline characters providing quite a lift.

Margaret River

Grenache

A light to medium-bodied example of a variety that continues to grow in popularity. This has a firmish thread of chalky tannins and a slightly ironstone ferrous edge. It’s generous with a wild mix of berry fruit characters and a liberal sprinkle of spices providing a lift.

Margaret River

Chenin Blanc

This vineyard was one of the first planted at Aravina back in 1986. The fruit is hand-picked and then whole bunch pressed to puncheons where it spent 8 months. The whole bunch pressing has added character while retaining the vibrancy throughout. Nectarine and creamy white peach characters and then a final lick of citrus to lift. A creamy textural expression...

Margaret River

Shiraz

Shows how good shiraz can be from this northern art of Margaret River. This is loaded with a spicy wild fruit character on the nose. All brambly and mulberry with some nice dark chocolate. The palate is supple and finely structured, underpinned by fine tannins and a gentle oak influence. Bright and vibrant.

Margaret River

Red Blend

It’s a take on the well-known GSM with these excellent bedfellows producing a wine of generosity and softness while representing deep fruit intensity. Matured for 8 months in older puncheons and then blended in equal parts. Floral red fruits with some mice chocolate and spicy characters. It’s medium weight with fine minerally tannins. An appealing wine over the next few...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Such a balanced and precisely poised cabernet from this very good red wine vintage. Comes off 35-year-old vines. It’s deeply intense, carrying all the blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and ripe plummy characters you expect. But then dig deeper and there’s the black olive, bay leaf, and minerally cracked seashell complexity. Lovely mouthfeel and a very long finish. Class wine.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

One of the prettiest and most refined of any Aravina chardonnay from this outstanding vineyard. The aromas are quite beautiful with a mix of cashew and intense grapefruit with traces of stone fruit. The palate is finely balanced with a deep intensity striking out with pear and cut lime with a slightly savory finish.

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

As the name suggests this is a Bordeaux blend of the main fie varieties of that region. There is power here. It’s evident on the nose which displays an intensity of dark fruits, lifted by an ethereal violet and red berry nuance before slight meaty characters emerge. The palate is firmly structured with a firmish tread of tannin and fine-grained...

Margaret River

Tempranillo

Bright highly energised red fruit bursts from the glass in this exquisite drinking wine from this famous Spanish variety. The mix of red cherry and high-end rose petal aromas are engaging. Then the supple palate delivers with panache. Super.

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

This is cabernet from some of the older vines in the region, with the addition of small amounts of petit verdot, cabernet franc and merlot. It’s a most stylish wine from a vintage that tended to produce wines of a more linear framework. Lifted notes of bay leaf and black olive float across the typical blackcurrant and a little oyster...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

The smooth and powerful elegance of this great Margaret River vintage is on display in this excellent example of the year. It is a typically tighter and more restrained expression with a close-knit of fine chalky tannins and fine-grained oak. It’s in the medium-bodied zone with a long almost, effortlessly presented finish.

Margaret River

Semillon

Ashbrook has been committed to this variety from the outset, and good on them. It’s a variety I love and I’m always keen to see a straight varietal version. A more restrained version in line with the season with traces of tropical fruits, cut grass and a zingy citrus tang. The acid keeps it crisp and keen through to a...

Margaret River

Shiraz

A spicy and slightly peppery medium bodied shiraz from the 2020 vintage. Aromas of cherry and light plum with some nice mulberry influences and a leafy perfume. The palate is well balanced with the fine chalky tannins and neatly infused oak working in unison to bring it home to a long finish. Focused and precise.

Margaret River

Verdelho

Ashbrook has been one of the Margaret River champions of this variety from the get-go. It’s a variety I love, especially as an early drinking wine when it’s at its vibrant best. Once again the tropical fruit is evident with a creamy nutty character and that distinct hint of egg cartons. Like this over the next couple of years.

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

The brilliant crimson-red colour is slightly translucent. And bright as a button. Aromas of sour cherry and subtle truffle oil emerge on the nose with a little chalk dust and raspberry confection. The palate is sublimely crafted with a seamless oak and fruit integration supported by silky fine tannins. It’s a succulent wine that is ready for drinking now, but...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

A bolder and more powerful statement than the earlier approachability of the Angelina. But there is still the vineyard and house style that is about seamless silky-smooth balance and integration with high energy vibrant fruit. Cherry and raspberry notes with deeper forest floor and light cedary. The fine tannins provide a tight structural core, but there is warmth and suppleness...

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.