Margaret River quick stop tasting tour

Margaret River
Tasted Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by chatters with 935 views

Introduction

Two day rapid stop tour of Margaret River. Leeuwin Estate was also visited but no notes taken. Since returning to Australia I am fulfilling my promise to myself to trawl through the major regions of the country. Hunter Valley was easily conquered (as it is only a couple of hours out of Sydney) but no notes were taken (though plenty of wines purchased). This time I exhibited more self control. This is my second tour of MR - the first being back in 2000...much has changed in the past ten years, both on the wine making and the 'tourist' front. The whites are made with far more finesse to the point of, in some cases, early harvesting to avoid over fruitiness and the reds are made with more emphasis on quality and exhibiting the 'terroir' of the region, for what it's worth. Also I don't have to pay for tastings!

Flight 1 - Hamelin Bay (3 Notes)

Our first winery of the day (after driving down from Perth). Hamelin Bay showed at Wine Ark a year or two ago. Their Chardonnay was very good and I picked up some of their 2005 Five Ashes Reserve. Marvellous. The winery is one of the most southerly of the MR region; it's in a lovely location in a steepish valley. We also tried an SSB but I didn't take notes.

Flight 2 - Redgate (7 Notes)

On my Hunter Valley tour someone said that Redgate Shiraz was a bit special so I thought I'd give it a go. It was a bit rough and ready, unfortunately, but the Bin 588 quaffing blend was special enough for me as a quaffer.

  • 2009 Redgate Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/6/2010)

    dominated by green grass and fruit, light quaffing and forgettable at AUD 21

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  • 2009 Redgate Chenin Blanc

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/6/2010)

    pineapple, lychee, lots of tinned fruit flavours - apricot, pear - no real acidity or finish. AUD 20. Mrs C was moved to purchase a bottle

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  • 2008 Redgate Bin 588

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/6/2010)

    tight red currant, touches of cherry, pepper, moderate tannin, no real acidity initially but a touch on the coconut touched finish. quite good at AUD 22.50 - bottle for quaffing for me.

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  • 2008 Redgate Cabernet Sauvignon

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/6/2010)

    Austere and tight nose, very young, black berries, tannin and, after all that, quite light. Hmm.

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  • 2007 Redgate Shiraz

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/6/2010)

    Kerosene, cabbage, black fruit, not jammy though, coconut, chocolate, tannin and, similar to their Cab Sav, quite light weight. Not quite right for me. AUD $30

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  • 2008 Redgate Cabernet Franc

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/6/2010)

    leather over dusty raspberry, some ethanol. Thick tannin, unctuous acidity, massive finish, chocolate as well. Enough fruit through the monstrous tannin and spice. A keeper at AUD 40. Mrs C insisted on a bottle and, as is her way, insisted on drinking it before it had achieved it's maturity...

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  • 2008 Redgate Chardonnay

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/6/2010)

    pineapple, acidity, cheese, hot fruit, juicy, but more nose than mouth. disappointing.

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Flight 3 - Voyager Estate (9 Notes)

A beautiful winery very much in the colonial style with a immaculate grounds (including a rose garden). Very commercial, having said that, geared up for the tourist. I was lucky enough to try their wines without this inherent pressure at wine ark and their 2003 cab merlot was a joy. The Tom Price and VOC wines are only available at the winery. Worth a visit

Flight 4 - Vasse Felix (4 Notes)

One of my memories from 2000. All of these wines are, though accomplished, a little one dimensional. Having said that, it is no distraction from the good quality of their wine making. The winery has been around 67 which is hardly any time in the French (or Hunter) scheme of things, but is one of the oldest wineries in Margaret River. Lovely cellar door.

  • 2008 Vasse Felix Chardonnay Margaret River

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    stone fruit, pineapple, oak, acid, clean fruit, apricot on the mouth with a touch of malo. hard to look past at AUD 22

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  • 2007 Vasse Felix Chardonnay Heytesbury

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    less fruit than the Vasse Felix Chardonnay, more mineral, eucalypt, white pepper, dry fruit and, maybe, melon and apricot. hints of cinnamon on the finish, marvellous

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  • 2007 Vasse Felix Cabernet Merlot

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Initially Eucalypt, spicy black fruit - particularly cherry, strong dark coffee, medium tannin, moderate finish

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  • 2007 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    tight dark fruit and berries, ethanol, mint, great tannin over a fruity long finish. wonderful at AUD 30

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Flight 5 - Cullen Wines (4 Notes)

I have been more disappointed than overjoyed by Cullen wines. My numerous tastings have led me to their 2004 Mangan and I am fortunate enough to have some back vintages of their reserve wine (the Diana Madeline) but I do find their wines a little insipid on occasion. Unfortunately this tasting did not alleviate my earlier experiences.

  • 2008 Cullen Wines Red Margaret River

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    simplistic cherry and burnt toast. Touches of nutmeg. more fruit on the nose than the mouth, quite light, not much to it. Oh dear.

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  • 2007 Cullen Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Elderflower, red berry, light nose with beef and yeast. Light savoury mouth, medium tannin, beautifully integrated, but perhaps a touch light, white pepper, not overly acidic. Hmm, nope. Not quite right.

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  • 2007 Cullen Wines Mangan

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Cherry, burnt toast, nutmeg, cinnamon, sweet leather, yeast extract, spiced white peppery fruit, tight tannin, not as much finish as I'd like. Not as good, for me, as the 2004.

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  • 2007 Cullen Wines Diana Madeline

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    tight on the nose, tinges of black fruit - currant and berries - aniseed and fruit finish, very well integrated and long finish. Lovely, subtle wine. Very good indeed. Perhaps one for the cellar.

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Flight 6 - Pierro wines (4 Notes)

I have had the pleasure of trying the Pierro Chardonnay previously and this tasting reinforced my earlier opinion. These wines were, very simply, jolly good. The SSB was a touch simplistic, for me, but the rest of them were just simply marvellous.

  • 2009 Pierro Semillon Sauvignon Blanc L.T.C.

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    floral and tropical, fruit nose and creamy...hints of banana. Hmm

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  • 2008 Pierro Chardonnay Margaret River

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    lemon/lime. Malo. Vibrant, crisp and long acidity. Very good, clean fruit. Oh, this is marvellous. For the cellar.

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  • 2007 Pierro Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot L.T.Cf.

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    cherry, red fruit, great acidity, good fruit, more cherry, light tannin, vanilla and a medium finish. Not a world altering event but a lovely wine at AUD 33

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  • 2005 Pierro Cabernet Merlot Reserve

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    jammy fruit, red cherry and menthol (like cherry fruit lozenges or cherry coke). beautiful mouth feel. great fruit. slight mid scoop then a long fruity, peppery finish. marvellous.

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Flight 7 - Woodlands Wines (9 Notes)

Utterly unexpected visit to the winery. We were served by a lovely young girl who had the most marvellously sporadic knowledge of wine making. Her honesty was impressive as she insulted, in no uncertain terms, plenty of the wines we tasted, rather eloquently in some cases and with good reason. But she also had the decency to proclaim the wonderness of quality of some of the wines mentioned below with, in my opinion, also good reason.

  • 2008 Woodlands Chardonnay

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    light acidic, apple and pear, tiny oak. quite good for AUD 20

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  • 2009 Woodlands Cabernet Franc Merlot

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    fruit, tannin, great for AUD 20. Acidity and shortish finish. Great quaffer.

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  • 2008 Woodlands Cabernet Franc Merlot

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Fruit & tannin, tight acidity, shortish finish but great for AUD 23

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  • 2008 Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Merlot

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    fruit and tannins again, tight acidity, short finish, great value at AUD 23

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  • 2008 Woodlands Emily

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Merlot dominated, good, blend of five Bordeaux grapes, Malbec is also prominant. More Savoury than fruity, nice but not for me.

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  • 2009 Woodlands Cabernet Franc Réserve de la Cave

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    red currant, very good indeed, mint, medium tannin and finish but great mouth feel. Reasonably simple but utterly satisfying.

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  • 2007 Woodlands Margaret

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Great mouthfeel, great fruit, great tannin. Oh, this is joyous. What a lovely wine and what a surprise to find it here in a rough hewn room on the side of an ugly and tired shed.

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  • 2006 Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon Robert Reserve

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Leather, earth, not much fruit, menthol, brambly black fruit, medium tannin. Tastes like a Grand Cru Right bank Bordeaux from a bad vintage.

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  • 2007 Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon Nicolas Reserve

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Very tight tannin, black and red fruit, decent acidity, mint and a dry long finish. Rather pleasant.

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Flight 8 - Moss Wood (10 Notes)

Moss Wood have an appointment policy so we booked and rocked up at the appropriate time. We were taken around by the daughter of the owner who has, bless her socks, no interest in viniculture! Needless to say she did a fantastic job on the wines, showing me and Mrs C various wines and barrels (and allowing us a taste of the ribbon vale Cab Sav by the grape itself). I'd be a liar if I was to say this was anything other than a fantastic experience.

  • 2009 Moss Wood Sémillon

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Very good fruit, nice acid and well structured, quite fruity rather than the usual grass cuttings. Rather nice. I think some will meander into the cellar to be run against the Hunter equivalents...

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  • 2007 Moss Wood Chardonnay Moss Wood Vineyard

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    toasty pine nuts, pineapple, tight acidity and great finish. Creamy overtones that imply malo and lees. Jolly nice.

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  • 2008 Moss Wood Chardonnay Moss Wood Vineyard

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    good fruit, nice and tight, more evidence of malo and perhaps less evidence of fruit than the 2007 which means that this wine (and the 07) are great ways of seeing the winemakers hand. Cracking.

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  • 2007 Moss Wood Pinot Noir Margaret River

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Nah, fruit is a bit rough with leathery overtones, doesn't feel well made. Not sure MR is the right region for Pinot.

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  • 2008 Moss Wood Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

    (4/7/2010)

    Simple jammy fruit, nice but forgettable...very quaffing mornington peninsula. It's just a touch dull and a touch overpriced at AUD 45 (more to the tune of AUD 25!)

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  • 2007 Moss Wood Cabernet Merlot Ribbon Vale

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    black fruit, very tight tannin, 7-9 months old, and very young. This doesn't have enough fruit for me to imply it will have sufficient life for age.

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  • 2006 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon Moss Wood Vineyard

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    leather, green unripe fruit on nose, closed, great rough tight fruit. Massive tannin. Very good. Inexplicably this offers more on the mouth than on the nose. In my opinion this wine is a good wine from a bad vintage. Moss Wood have done a fine job.

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  • 2004 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    yeast, malo, meat, menthol, hidden/light fruit. Hmm, niceish.

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  • 2008 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon Moss Wood Vineyard

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Barrel tasting: tight, some fruit, good promise, plenty of tannin and, perhaps, not enough fruit. Hmm

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  • 2009 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon Moss Wood Vineyard

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (4/7/2010)

    Barrel tasting: Oh lord, wonderful fruit, really rich, fruity wine, great tannin but, even at this preposterously young age, this wine is incredibly balanced. Marvellous.

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Closing

Lots of wonderful Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon (and other red Bordeaux grapes to a far lesser extent). Semillon and Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends were also to the fore. Regarding Margaret River (or Margaret Rip-off as my Perth friends call it): Basically everyone is lovely and they are not offended if you do not buy. Apart from the odd bargain it usually cheaper to buy the wine form the local bottle shop. Additionally we had lunch at Leeuwin Estate on the first day (Marron - baby fresh water Lobster - with a glass of the Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay - marvellous). Oh, Moss Wood Cab Sav was my winner...

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