A mixed dozen highlighting some of Western Australia’s finest boutique vineyards. This pack features excellent examples of the styles for which Margaret River has become famous, and some emerging styles which could well point the way to the future.
- Ashbrook Estate Chardonnay 2006
Tasting Notes:
“Fifty percent of this wine was barrel-fermented in new French oak and given six months maturation in that oak; the remainder was fermented in stainless steel. Bright green-yellow, it is an extremely complex wine with some deliberate funky aromas reminiscent of white burgundy. Grapefruit and nectarine drive the palate, with the oak well-balanced and integrated.
96 points …13.5% alc Drink Now-2012 with grilled spitchcock”.
James Halliday, Top 100, Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2006
Tasting Notes:
Leeuwin Estate are renown for the stupendous quality of their chardonnay, but they also produce a number of other excellent wines, including this dry riesling. Classic citrus and floral nose with a dose of minerality, all of which carry through to the mid-weighted palate. Crisp acid closes off the long finish. 12% alc.
- Stella Bella Viognier 2005
Tasting Notes:
“Stella Bella carefully uses various winemaking artefacts to give funky complexity to its ripe, peachy fruit…Shows barrel influence with cedar and roasted hazelnuts. Lots of guts and easy to like!”. 13% alc.
93/100 Huon Hooke Star Performers Viognier – Filling in the Blancs – Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine – Oct/Nov 07
- McHenry Hohnen 3 Amigos Marsanne/Chardonnay/Rousanne 2005
Tasting Notes:
This is a wine to feel good about, quite literally. It’s all about the texture, rich and creamy from barrel fermentation, with a kind of nuttiness laid in there and kept alive by the acidity which Marsanne brings into the blend. Should prove a very good match for grilled fish, but well worth enjoying on its own, too. 13% alc.
- Vasse Felix Semillon 2007
Tasting Notes:
“This has aromas of lime, melon and green bean supported with vanilla and clove spice oak which is always an unusual combination for me, yet one I find strangely compelling here. On the palate light to medium weight with flavours of sweet lime and herbs, gentle sweet pea pod and spicy vanilla oak. It has soft pure acid and feels well rounded with little dollop of creaminess helping to add gloss. Vitality, complexity, fine balance and very good long finish all add up to make a top Semillon in the wooded style.” 12.5% alc.
94 pts Drink 2008-2015 Gary Walsh, Winorama
- Larry Cherubino ‘The Yard’ Pedestal Vineyard SSB 2007
Tasting Notes:
Lemon and passionfruit, with a hint of nettle and straw, are the defining flavours in this little beauty, but it’s the sheer drinkability that gets you going. Soft and approachable, with just enough texture to make it interesting, this is decidedly more-ish. 12.5% alc.
- Ashbrook Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc 2002
Tasting Notes:
Medium-bodied, but with significant structure. Classic regional cabernet palate of blackberry/blackcurrant, with nuances of plum and herb. I’d think this has some significant potential for aging, if the second day of this bottle is a fair judge, and would be well worth the wait, too. 14% alc.
- Fermoy Estate Merlot 2005
Tasting Notes:
Vibrant ruby red with a purple hue, and concentrated aromas of ripe plum and red berry, with more complex charry, briary and mocha notes developing with time in the glass. The palate is well structured with complex leathery coffee and fruit cake flavours, and chalky fine tannins well balanced with persistent flavours. 13.5% alc.
Gold Medal, Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2007
Silver Medal & Top-scoring Merlot, Margaret River Wine Show 2007
- Victory Point Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot 2004
Tasting Notes:
Dark fruit on the nose, hints of nettle and leather. Fresh on the palate, mix of vibrant red fruit with ripe black fruit, good length, tannins showing integration. You could cellar, but could also drink now quite happily, which in my house doesn’t mean cellaring. 13.3% alc
- McHenry Hohnen 3 Amigos Shiraz Grenache Mataro 2005
Tasting Notes:
“Excellent hue and clarity; a spotlessly clean, aromatic bouquet with a spray of red and black fruits; the light- to medium-bodied palate fulfils the promise of the bouquet; soft but lingering tannins. Screwcap 14% alc.
RATING 94 DRINK 2012”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition
- Cape Grace Shiraz 2005
Tasting Notes:
Lighter-bodied than the stereotypical Oz shiraz, this drop still lives at the big-fruited end of town, and if the palate is anything to go by probably spends a lot of time with a cigar in hand, too. Nicely savoury quality, as well. Granular tannins finish with a bit of fireside warmth at the back of the palate. 14% alc.
- Deep Woods Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005
Tasting Notes:
Big and muscular by Margaret River standards. Ripe black fruit, plum, dusty earthy note from oak, hint of herbs. Seems to have enough acid to handle a few years of cellaring, but should also be a pretty good food match right now. Osso Buco, perhaps? 14% alc.
Top Gold Medal, Royal Perth Wine Show, 2007
Australian Wine Centre Regional Dozens 
