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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.

Margaret River

Sauvignon Blanc

In a hot year like ’24 it is very useful to have access to your own vineyard south of Margaret River at Karridale. A small part of this was fermented in new French oak and it becomes immediately apparent on the nose. It adds a nutty complexity to the primary punchy fruit aromas and then into the palate where it...

Geographe

Chardonnay

Impressive chardonnay sourced from the Geographe region. Beautiful opening with lemon scents and edgy grapefruit evident on the nose. The palate has achieved a high level of complexity with a flinty charry edge to the lime dominated citrus nuance. A tight minerally savoury finish completes a tidy wine.

Swan Valley

Semillon

Talijancich has been making semillon since 1989, and I suspect there has never been a better one than this. Picks up the varietal characters of lemon and other citrus notes, but then adds the complexing richness of partial barrel fermentation. The palate reveals flavours of custard and lemon tart with a citrussy edge for balance and a slightly nutty finish....

Margaret River

Muscat

This is a luscious and beautiful, fortified wine that comes off unirrigated 64-year-old vines. The colour is quite pale, but the aromas are immediately captivating with a mix of orange peel, florals, even a little butterscotch, and then the palate releases with a rich and flavoursome flavour profile. The spirit and fruit balance is superb. I think this is a...

Great Southern

Chardonnay

A slightly more restrained chardonnay compared with the 2021. It’s tighter with a taut and slightly tense middle palate. But the oak and fruit balance works really well with the savoury stone fruit and citrus characters working with the slightly cashew-like influences.

Great Southern

Chardonnay

A highly fragrant and bright chardonnay from Denmark. Notes of lemon curd, butterscotch and ripe nectarine and white peach. The palate releases flavours of cashew and stone fruit richness. The oak and fruit balance works so well, and it has a crunchy minerally finish with a little chalky edge.

Frankland River

Cabernet Franc

A variety that is mostly blended with cabernet sauvignon, yet more are releasing straight varietal versions when things line up in the season. This was one of those times. Perfumed red berry and violet with a floral leafy lift on the nose. The palate is medium bodied and elegantly crafted with the red berry and subtle oak working in harmony....

Margaret River

Chardonnay

These chardonnays from Vasse Felix over the last few years are really starting to hit their straps. They seem to be allowed to release more of the flavour intensity, and the result is a wine of immense appeal. At the same time, it retains that essential linear, crunchy acidity that is a feature of the style. This one has a...

Margaret River

Semillon

This is another style that Grace Farm elevates from the stock standard. Semillon is such a beautiful variety, and when it gets just a little oak influence from the, in this case, four months in seasoned French oak, it really does elevate it into another zone. Slightly lemony, nutty characters on the nose. And then a palate which displays good...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is an appealing, nice entry-level chardonnay that delivers everything with a degree of restraint. Lemony, nutty notes on the nose capture the variety, while the palate combines a textural creaminess with a fine, crisp, chalky acidity. Neatly framed and ideal for current drinking.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is quite a different expression of Margaret River chardonnay, primarily due to the use of clone 95. It has a distinctive biscuit and water-cracker character on the nose, especially. The palate is dry and savoury, with a high degree of tension giving focus and precision through to the finish. Nice chalky characters. This has had about 40% malolactic fermentation,...

Frankland River

Riesling

From the very start, this wine has been something special and highly individual. It comes from a specific patch on the Ferngrove estate and produces a wine of incredible linear character. And rather than the high-end florals it has a spicier lemon zest character that dominates on the nose. The palate picks up on that spicy lemony combo and carries...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

The Gingin clone has been used effectively in this wine, bringing the power and intensity of the clone to the forefront. But at the same time, it's beautifully designed with control and finesse, creating a linear expression. Citrusy, lemon curd, slightly oatmealy underlay on the nose, and then a palate which gathers momentum and drive through to a long finish....

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Pierro always holds back a little of the current release chardonnay, for later release, which is great because it pushes you into a wine that's entering its ideal drinking zone, and the cellaring is done for you. This was always an outstanding wine, and it captures so much of the Pierro style, perhaps leaning more toward the modern evolution of...

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

Chardonnay

A wine that has move effortlessly into another zone in quality and style. It's a mighty impressive wine that has been handcrafted from the picking through into the cellar. The fruit is off some pretty old vines and it's been given 14 months in oak. Creamy stone fruit and even a touch of brioche and lemon rind, yet it retains...

Porongurup

Riesling

Everything about this wine says elegance and refinement, even the beautifully tapered bottle. The aromas are distinctly mineral and spicy, with some lovely stone-washed characters, a faint hint of bath salts and a little lemon essence. The palate keeps that fine tension, but it's under control and still allows the fruit to express itself quite beautifully. Nice talcy acidity. A...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A wine showing the generosity of this vintage. The nose displays a mix of lemon curd and crème brulee with an edgier quince paste character. It’s creamy and richly textured but with a tightening from the oak and a fine acidity to ensure it remains focused to a long finish. A chardonnay for the medium term.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

One of the best of these I have tasted. Whole bunch pressed, barrel fermented and aged in French oak barriques for 9 months with stirring every 2 weeks. Only the best barrels are selected. There is power and concentration here with a fine focus that carries to a very long finish. Captures the grapefruit and lime edginess with a little...

Swan Valley

White Blend

This has verdelho, semillon and a little vermentino. Has a beautiful aroma of florals, spice and citrus. The palate is clean and crisp, with the vermentino playing a crucial role in fine-tuning and focusing through to a long finish. This is a beautiful current-drinking wine.

Swan Valley

Red Varietal

Little wonder this north-western Spanish variety should find a home in the warm environs of the Swan Valley. It's a light and fragrant white wine with a spicy, slightly saline palate. There is nice texture here with that crisp bright acidity adds a lift to the finish. Light apple and pear flavours provide the final piece.

Frankland River

Riesling

This has become one of the most interesting WA wine releases. It’s from the Geisenheim riesling clone close planted on high ironstone and after vinification with no additions it is put into 500l and 1000l old oak where wild yeast fermentation does its magic. So, this is riesling made in the old way, hence the name. Spicy with a creamy...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a wine that captures the precision and elegance of a vintage that produced wines combining delicacy with power. Whole bunch pressing and wild fermentation, followed by eight months in French oak barriques, have contributed to a complex and layered palate. On the nose, there are lively, slightly lemon-scented, minerally, lemon curd characters. The palate shows deep intensity, with...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A first-rate chardonnay from this old, low-yielding vineyard in Wilyabrup. Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented in French oak with wild yeasts. Extended time on lees has built textural complexity into the palate while balancing fine, delicate acidity. Quince, stone fruit and a touch of lemon curd with a slightly dry savoury finish. A most appealing chardonnay from a good year...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

One of the best chardonnays from Smithbrook in recent years. Really nails it in every way. Immediately opens with a mix of stone fruit and cutting lemon tang merging with a roasted almond character. The palate is intense and penetrating, with the support of a fine persistent acidity. Has a savoury minerally finish to complete a very tidy wine. Starting...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is the most elegant and stylish light-bodied chardonnay. It was whole-bunch pressed and wild yeast fermented. Then had six months in oak, so it hasn't seen an excessive amount of oak and yet the fruit has developed harmony and complexity. On the nose, there's a minerally sea spray citrus combination. And then the palate is really finely crafted and...

Western Australia

White Blend

What a thoroughly beautiful and delicious, refreshing wine this is. Might be the best yet. Great fruit intensity and concentration, delivered with such poise and refinement. The palate is bright and lively, with impressive clarity and purity. No oak, just pure fruit. If you don’t have a few bottles of this in the fridge over summer, you are nuts.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a case of the planets aligning with one of the great names in Australian chardonnay from what I think is the finest vintage in the history of West Australian modern winemaking. This is quintessential Leeuwin, controlled power, but with the subtle finesse and delicacy that is the signature of this great vintage. The nose is a wonderful mix...

Pemberton

Chardonnay

A wine that continues to show the growing complexity and expression of this smaller producer in Pemberton. This is the most intense and complex yet. Notes of lemon curd and brioche with a roasted cashew infusion. It’s creamy but with a fie and precise linear minerality that helps focus the long finish. Incredibly long palate profile.

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.

Swan Valley

Verdelho

This is a more controlled and refined expression of the verdelho from the Swan Valley. The aromas have a floral, light stone fruit, and citrus edge. The palate is soft, yet with a fine, lively acidity that carries through to the finish. This is not a big fruit bomb, but there is flavour within, and it drives forward with precision...

Margaret River

Sauvignon Blanc

Cliff Royle grabs the fruit from the cooler climate at Karridale. The result is a wine that retains its fresh linear characteristics but then with further winemaking influence through wild fermentation in oak and tank it strikes at another level of complexity. The aromas have a distinctive light stone fruit, lychee and citrus character. Beautifully weighted palate with texture and...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

Whereas the Artus was kinda funky, this one has a precise purity and freshness about it, showing lots of white peach, a little nectarine, citrus, and a sort of lemon curd–brioche combination. The palate has a slight savoury chalky confluence that comes together and then drives with great purpose through to a long finish. This is the most stylish expression...

Great Southern

Chardonnay

I do like this chardonnay with its many attractive features. Aromas of lemon and spice with little vanilla pod and brioche. Into the light-bodied palate the layers of nectarine and gentle white peach create a lovely combination. A twist of lemon on the finish and there you have it.

Margaret River

Semillon

I bang on about semillon all the time, and yet here’s the reason. It’s wines like this. This is a cracking good example of what Margaret River can produce with this variety, an underrated variety these days. It’s had about 25% new French oak, and then spent eight months on lees, so it’s picked up a complexity and textural element...

Frankland River

Pinot Grigio

A lovely, pure, crunchy, vibrant pinot grigio capturing the lifted florals and citrusy cut pear characters on the nose. And then on the palate, a lovely racy feel with lifted pear and nectarine flavours, and a little of the fairly typical apple crumble nuance. It's a zippy little wine, ideal for current drinking.

Porongurup

Chardonnay

The fruit comes from an excellent Porongurup vineyard, Shepherd’s Hut. Reveals a sea spray aroma over lemon chalky characters. On the palate deeper lemon pith, brioche and the slightly chalky limestone minerality reveals. In the winery an oxidative approach is taken after hand and machine picking. It’s pressed to barrel with full solids and then naturally fermented before malolactic fermentation...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a cracking good chardonnay that provides both palate weight and concentrated richness, and at the same time, a linear tension that gives it such precision and poise. On the nose, a fairly typical mix of grapefruit, stone fruit and some lightly roasted cashews. The palate reveals more light butterscotch and creamy peachy characters. But there's a fine savoury,...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A distinctly fruit-driven style of early-drinking chardonnay. Aromas of light cashew and melon with a squeeze of citrus provide an enticing opening. And then the palate, which is neatly balanced and a suggestion of light oak, but it is really about the fruit, which is harnessed by a crisp, fine acidity and carries easily through to a long finish. Ideal...