Margaret River

James Halliday – "Hand picked across 3 days according to the biodynamic calendar. Wild ferment, matured in French oak for 6 months (50% new), 100% mlf. 2020 was a fast and short vintage with heartbreakingly low yields in Margaret River, yet it produced wines of effortless grace and poise. This is most certainly one of those. Like a rhythmic pulse of flavour in the mouth ... steady, like a heartbeat. All elements are in harmony: fruit, acid, phenolics; they gently seesaw between each other, spooling out a seemingly never-ending trail of flavour. Breathtakingly beautiful, again." Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion.

James Halliday – Top 100 Wines of 2021 - "Matured for 12 months in French oak (40% new). The bouquet is a fragrant mix of cassis and cedar/cigar box, the intense palate with a tapestry of flavours of cassis and savoury bay leaf. Yet it has the lightest of tannin touches encouraging a quick return to the glass." - James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)

James Halliday – Sourced from 48yo vines on the 2.2ha Block 2 on the Hay Shed Hill property in Wilyabrup. Matured 18 months in French oak barriques. The nose presents a classical combination of black pepper, plum, raspberry, cassis and mulberry, backed by spiced oak. The palate follows suit and is further ameliorated by the presence of finely grippy tannins which caress the fruit through the lingering finish.

James Halliday – Matured for 12 months in new and used oak (88% French, 12% American). Bright crimson colour heralds a wine full of vitality; red berry flavours surge through the mouth, gauzy tannins in the background adding to the exuberant mouthfeel and length.

The Wine Front – Spicy, peppery, dried herb and floral perfume, white cherry and pink grapefruit. It’s dry with a grainy and chalky grip, subtle but engaging flavour profile, a coolness to acidity, and a dusty finish of crunch and excellent length, a little amaro tang in the aftertaste. Texture is a highlight in this high cheekboned style of rosato. 93 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front August 2021

The Wine Front – Sauvignon blanc and semillon with some chardonnay, they say. This is the Little Touch Of Christmas label (which is just a festive season alternative). About 20% is barrel fermented. It’s been a winning drink for a long while. Good balance, refreshing feel, easy going texture with a touch of extra interest. There’s good intensity of green pea/grassy semillon and a counter punch of tropical fruity semillon. The palate has good energy, stacks of freshness, dry finish. There’s all the citrus and zestiness to acidity you could ask for. Kind of an old school Margaret River dry white kind of feel, in the best possible way. It’s got plenty of charisma.

James Halliday – 70% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, the remainder cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec, 18 months in French barriques (60% new). Bright, clear colour; a remarkably elegant, juicy red and black berry fruit-filled wine, neither oak or tannins seeking to interfere with the fruit. One of those rare wines to be drunk now or in 20+ years. Rating 96” Halliday Wine Companion 2017

The Wine Front – Blackberry, blueberry, cherry pie with a spicy crust, polished cedar and menthol. Medium-bodied, dark chocolate and baking spice, dried herbs and black olive, supple tannin, a brine and nori savoury aspect, dense feel to it,though not heavy, and a silty tannin and baked raspberry finish of good length. Typical maritime feel of 2020 MR Cabernet here, and good drinking. 92 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front August 2021

The Wine Front – Pear, spicy biscuits, jasmine, honey, fresh apricot. Medium bodied, quite fleshy, with quince and ripe lemon as bonus flavours, a firm briny tang of acidity, a milky and powdery texture, and a spicy finish with a slight watermelon rind bitterness. Nice wine.

James Halliday – "A great vintage for Margaret River white wines. Barrel fermented in French puncheons (33% new), but that is not the only winemaking input, some enriching use of solids also in play. It’s complex, and in a lineage that will ensure the wine has a healthy life ahead. 13% alc, screwcap 96 points, drink to 2030." - James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)

The Wine Front – ’s a mid-weight wine, soft and fluid. It doesn’t quite have the grunt of some of the earlier releases under this label but it’s well shaped and flavoured and, most importantly, drinks well. You can rely on it. It tastes of Blackcurrant, mulberry, milk chocolate and bay leaves, with gentle toast and olive-like character evident in the background. Tannin is modest. Hard to go wrong, either for now or the medium term.

The Wine Front – Fine balance, all that lightness with density stuff going on here. I’m thinking the flavours are dark mint chocolate, blueberry and assorted red and black berries, baking spices too. Lovely gravelly tannin, cool settled acidity, bay leaf and floral perfume, and a long insistently, but gently tannic finish. Spot on.