Category Archives: Margaret River

2012 Voyager Estate Chenin Blanc

Quite a different style of Australian Chenin to the classic dry white expressions of, say, Coriole or Dowie Doole in McLaren Vale. This has some real palate weight and dare I say, draws a little more inspiration from Vouvray. Smells of apple … Continue reading

Posted in Chenin Blanc, Margaret River | Tagged | Comments Off

2012 Voyager Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

“Roll on summer, roll on The spray coming off the ocean The big breakers rolling in The smell of the suntan lotion As we’re rubbing it all over our skin The sweet metal taste of VB  Straight from the ice … Continue reading

Posted in Margaret River, Sauvignon Blanc et al, Semillon et al | Tagged | 2 Comments

2010 Voyager Estate Girt by Sea Cabernet Merlot

Cabernet dominant and it tastes that way. I don’t have the exact percentages but I suspect the Merlot is filling out the mid-palate nicely. Lovely flow here. Plenty of drinking pleasure for your hard-earned buck and ready to go now, … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet et al, Margaret River, Merlot et al | Tagged | Comments Off

2010 Voyager Estate Shiraz

When I first tasted this blind at the Voyager Estate Masterclass 2012 it stood out for a good reason. It was surrounded by wines that exuded character. Shouted it even. A Glaetzer-Dixon Mon Père Shiraz 2010 (my pick of the Shiraz … Continue reading

Posted in Margaret River, Shiraz | Tagged | Comments Off

2011 Fraser Gallop Estate Winery Chardonnay

Love just about everything about Fraser Gallop except the new wine naming system. Why not just stick to Estate and Parterre and ditch the word ‘Winery’? There, I’ve got that off my chest. One for those not keen on the … Continue reading

Posted in Chardonnay, Margaret River | Tagged | Comments Off

2010 Blue Poles Reserve Merlot

Could this be the best Blue Poles Reserve Merlot yet? In time I reckon the answer will be yes. It’s a touch introverted at the moment but time in the decanter (or a second day of tasting) and it’s happy to … Continue reading

Posted in Margaret River, Merlot | Tagged | Comments Off

Re-evaluating Australian Merlot: Taking a Step Back from Fear and Loathing

If Bordeaux is unfashionable these days amongst the wine media, sommeliers and the cognoscenti, then it’s not too far off the mark to say that Australian Merlot is loathed. There are reasons for this (apart from plain ignorance, which still … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Australia, Canberra, Eden Valley, Granite Belt, Margaret River, McLaren Vale, Merlot, Yarra Valley | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Chapel Hill Red Wine Workshop 3.0

Last week I attended the third Chapel Hill Red Wine Workshop in Brisbane, hosted by head winemaker Michael Fragos. I’m not a huge fan of ‘cattle’ trade tastings, although I do get along to a few each year. The atmosphere … Continue reading

Posted in Articles, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Margaret River, McLaren Vale, Shiraz, Wine Events, Wine Musings | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

2009 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay

“All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again” – Battlestar Galactica  No doubt still an Australian flagship, I wonder how the Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay is faring as minimalist interpretations of the grape flood the country? Is … Continue reading

Posted in Chardonnay, Margaret River | Tagged | 2 Comments

2011 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling

The Margaret River is hardly synonymous with Riesling and 2011 was a warmish year. The two haven’t combined particularly well. There’s a blunt mustiness here and whilst it improved on the second day of tasting, it never truly went away. … Continue reading

Posted in Margaret River, Riesling | Tagged | Comments Off