Western Australian Wines

Open knit but a complex cedary style. Mid-weight, classically styled - perhaps a little light in style, but aging gracefully.

Ashbrook Estate typify the modern Margaret River winery that quietly over-achieve by making wines that are regional, varietal and critically acclaimed. Indeed, wine Critic James Halliday has described Ashbrook as making wines that are “elegant, understated and underpriced.” Proving Shiraz from the Margaret River is elegant this wine shows a soft, silky texture imbued with the essence of raspberries to produce an attractive, easy drinking red that’s food-friendly and moreish.

If you love Chardonnay you should jump on this because it’s one of those wines that you will want to covet. It’s been awarded a very laudible 94 points from wine writer James Halliday and it’s the kind of new wave of Chardonnay that is causing ripples across the land. Prepare yourselves for a vivid nose of quince, flowers, honey, and spicy vanilla with an amazing length of flavour and a dry finish.

Leeuwin Estate continues to set the standard by producing one of Australia’s most collectable Cabernets. Each vintage the Art series is released a new label by a contemporary Australian artist is commissioned so they become valuable works of art in the cellar. This is typical Margaret River Cabernet exuding aromas of blackcurrant, violets and tobacco as well as some pencil like oak. Dark intense fruits on the palate, complement a majestic texture before powdery tannins complete the package. Pair it with nothing less than a cut of lamb.

The Margaret River continues to dominate the market when it comes to the savviest of savvy blends and Stella Bella lead the way with a style of wine that will keep the ladies happy. That’s not saying it’s exclusively a ladies wine but it does have a certain cache amongst the female majority. This is humming with tropical flavours and herbs with a predominance of gooseberries and citrus. Serve it chilled with an abundance of prawns.

Rob Diletti is not only a talented winemaker but he’s a bit of a star with Chardonnay. This is his premium ‘bells and whistles’ version that is brimming with energy and regionality. It’s lifted with aromas of stonefruit and citrus as well as mealy and nutty characters underpinned by quality oak. A palate of citrus flavours mixed with a smart oak influence lends great balance; it’s powerful and long with a refreshing clean finish. A very impressive modern Chardonnay, that would harmonise with a chicken baguette with a creamy tarragon mayonnaise.

Taste the wine the stopped a nation! Well not quite but a bottle of beautiful Leeuwin Estate certainly creates a scene – the original great Australian Chardonnay and still one of the best. Pristine citrus and tropical fruit, luxurious creamy oak – the kind of wine that makes you come back for glass after glass – a winner vintage too.

Of the Sandalford range, the Prendiville sits on the top tier offering up the most noble expression of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon. Sure, it’s not cheap, but you don’t go and buy a Porsche expecting to pay for a mini! From a stellar vintage this is all blackcurrant and violets on the nose with cedary complexity from expensive French oak. The palate is elegant with cassis and cedar, some cigar box and chocolate offering immense flavour. The balance is spellbinding, the finish soft and long with integrated oak and very fine tannins. You could happily cellar this for up to 15 years but we just can’t wait, nor can the lamb roast to pair it with.

96 out of 100 from James Halliday, plus loads of gold medals and all deserved too. This is a punchy Margaret River star, made for special occasions.

This powerful wine is the second label to Margaret River’s Pierro winery, who proudly make one of the country’s most collectable Chardonnays. This is no slouch either, displaying real presence in the glass. You’ll find complexity, texture and enormous fruit flavour in this agreeably modern Chardonnay. It’s got pear and peach aromas on the nose before an elegant fruit profile and nicely cleansing acids. A celebrated style that pairs well with food such as shellfish and poultry.

Proving why the region is called Great southern, there’s greatness in every sip of this regional Shiraz from WA powerhouse Howard Park. This is a single vineyard wine of great distinction that goes to show that sometimes the west is the best. It mixes up dark fruits, like plums and blackberries with hints of licorice, bitter chocolate and spice. The tight, structured palate conveys the concentration of berries with fine tannins and has great potential to age. Well worth searing a steak for this wine as it tastes even better with meaty protein.

In the Margaret River, Cabernet is king and offers the world an alternative to the inflated and exorbitant prices of Bordeaux. The Moss Brothers have over fifty years experience combined to bring the best expressions of the region to life. One sip of this and you’ll revel in its charm and easy-going nature. This is the kind of wine you want to spend time with and savour with a wedge of mature cheddar or even some dark chocolate. Richly perfumed with blackcurrant and violets, this wine is well structured with textured tannins and unfailing persistence.

Three words that get us excited; single vineyard Chardonnay, add in the fact that it comes from the Margaret River and is made by star winemaker Navneet Singh and there’s three solid reasons to jump on this wine. It’s got everything we love about Margaret River Chards showing citrus, melon and cashew nut oak. The palate delivers a complex array of flavours and a textured creaminess with a rich vein of minerality, some spicy oak and a long finish.

When we see a reserve release Chardonnay from Sandalford we get excited because we have a soft spot for Margaret River Chardonnay in all its guises. This is top-notch stuff, eschewing outdated Chardonnay practices for less alcohol, less oak and an emphasis on fruit to create a modern, lean style that is gaining a worldwide reputation. An elegant stone fruit nose with a subtle oak influence, these flavours are mirrored on the palate letting the structure and the balance of the wine take centre stage. Precise natural acids lend it a complex finish before fruit and mineral persistence ensure this will go the distance in the cellar.

Is Stella really stellar? Well in this case yes. Stella Bella are one of the Margaret River’s secret weapons consistently turning out exceptional regional examples. What’s the secret? Site selection, fastidious fruit sorting and the smartest French oak is just part of the equation, the rest comes down to winemaking. You’ll be rewarded with an intense Chardonnay with notes of citrus, peach and cashew as well as more complex secondary characters. The palate is focused and modern showing citrus, spicy oak and really smart natural acids.

There can be no doubt that Chardonnay has come of age as international commentators are all in agreement that the wines Australia are crafting are well up there with the worlds best. Part of this is due to the Margaret River as they are leading the charge and this wine piqued our interest in a big way. Peach and nectarine flavours as well as a baked bread complexity to the oak the nose is utterly seductive. Well structured with appealing citrus and stone fruit and utterly seamless oak this is a wine of impressive poise and length.

Got someone coming round for dinner that fancies themselves as a wine buff? Serve them this Margaret River blend and watch them melt thanks to seductive waves of berry fruits, mulberries, plum and cassis. Pair it with something like lamb and see how harmonious this wine matches with its fine structure and elegant palate weight.

The wines of Vanya Cullen have been a pivotal part of the Margaret River’s dominance when it comes to the red blending of Cabernet and Merlot. There is a real passion behind this label starting in the vineyard that are all farmed biodynamically to ensure pristine quality. 2009 proved to be another stellar vintage in the West and the aromas of redcurrant and plum are scintillating precursors to a sumptuous palate. It’s firm and elegant with a seamless tannin profile before a long, balanced finish.

Chardonnay from Denmark? We did not know the Danes made Chardy, but then we realised it’s the other Denmark, the lesser known sub-region of WA. This stellar white has been awarded an amazing 95 points by wine critic James Halliday, a guarantee that it will reward those who share a love of modern Chardonnay. Prepared to be smitten by a nose of nectarine, citrus and complex, spicy oak characters before a balanced and textured palate that demands food. Grapefruit, melon and vanilla oak make for a long, impressive finish.

The reserve version of the 'standard' Harewood Estate SSB, this takes the style and adds a little sexiness, with the fruit sourced from higher altitude (hence sexier) vineyards and given time in (sexy) French oak, all of which makes for a more complex. more intriguing and more curvaceous white wine. Whether it is sexier is up to you to decide...