MARGARET RIVER: Panel Tasting Results by Decanter.com

Leeuwin Estate, Art Series, Margaret River 2010
Decanter average score: 18.75/20pts (95+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 19 Pierre Mansour 19 Anthony Rose 18.5
Price: £39-£43 Domaine Direct, The Secret Cellar
Drink： 2015-2022
Alc： 14%

Since 2002, led by winemaker Paul Atwood, working with viticulturist David Winstanley, Leeuwin has embarked on a new programme to refine its Cabernet so that it would stand shoulder to shoulder with the Art Series Chardonnay at the top of the varietal tree. With 38 years of vine age, the best batches of fruit come from moderate-yielding, home-block estate vines grown on free-draining, gravelly soils and picked at optimum ripening followed by a gentle fermentation and blending to French oak.
Roger Jones Eucalyptus on nose and palate. Savoury leather and a touch of coffee – very fresh fruit and oak. Lovely bursts of vanilla which softens the wine. A fantastic Cabernet that needs another year to perform at its best.
Pierre Mansour Youthful, stylish blackberry fruit that opens up in the glass. Amazingly pure aroma, and a dense palate, which is full of generous, sweet fruit. This wine is attractive, pleasurable and long. Stunning!
Anthony Rose Broodingly youthful nose with a touch of mint. Vigorous, almost chunky red with subdued, elemental aromas. Powerful, sweet, ripe cherry fruit and evolving fine tannins. The brightness of fruit, spicy oak polish and the finesse of tannins suggest an even brighter future.


Woodlands, Alex, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 18.75/20pts (95+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18.5 Pierre Mansour 19 Anthony Rose 18.5
Drink： 2015-2021
Alc： 13.5%

Established in 1973 by David and Heather Watson, Woodlands’ 10-hectare vineyard on a south-facing slope in the heart of Wilyabrup receives sunlight all day. Sunlight is not direct, however, because of the east-west orientation of the vineyard, while clay-loam soils retain moisture to allow even ripening at a moderate alcohol level. Since 2002 the vineyard has been restructured with a conversion towards organics and the cellar has been renovated with a vibrating sorting table and other modern equipment. A combination of all these factors allows the Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve flavour intensity at 13.5% – a relatively modest alcohol for Australia.
RJ Evolves on the palate. Lots of balanced fruit; this will age well. Lots happening in the glass and then you get that amazing fruit hit with great lingering flavours. You should decant this.
PM A fresh nose of black cherry and some stylish oak; very elegant. Has a fine, medium-bodied palate; there is real focus and poise. The finish has superb texture and effortless intensity.
AR Sweet vanilla and cedar nose; plenty of stylish oak. Complex: a powerful, rich, concentrated mouthful of sweet cassis and spice with a herby, almost meadow-like fragrance. This is infused with a savoury balsam-fruit richness, which is dense, long, concentrated and fine-grained in texture.

Thompson Estate, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2010
Decanter average score: 18.25/20pts (94/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18 Pierre Mansour 18 Anthony Rose 18.5
Drink： 2014-2025
Alc： 14%

Fine nose of lovely elegance and polish behind the fragrance and fruit quality. This shows depth and is quite layered. The palate is well textured and very rich and then some lovely spices and great balance.

Aravina Estate, Margaret River 2012
Decanter average score: 17.75/20pts (92/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17.5 Pierre Mansour 18 Anthony Rose 18
Drink: 2015-2022
Alc: 14.5%

Wonderful graphite-infused Cabernet nose, with cedar spice and some flashy oak. Perfumed and enticing with some complexity, fine texture, incredible fruit purity and balance. This is drinking now, but will also get better.

Vasse Felix, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2010
Decanter average score: 17.75/20pts (92/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17 Pierre Mansour 18 Anthony Rose 18
Price: £23.99 Christopher Piper, Negociants, Selfridges, Waitrose
Drink: 2014-2030
Alc: 14.5%

Intense ginger, spice and dark fruits; a very distinctive character. This has a youthful blueberry attractiveness and is full bodied and layered. Incisively fresh, grippy and very appealing.

Victory Point, Margaret River 2009
Decanter average score: 17.75/20pts (92/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18.5 Pierre Mansour 17.5 Anthony Rose 17.5
Drink: 2014-2038
Alc: 14%

Showing sweetly fragrant blackcurrant fruit on the palate that’s just on the turn from primary to a more evolved, complex character. The generous and rich finish has a hint of chocolate.


Flametree, SRS, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 17.5/20pts (91/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 16.5 Pierre Mansour 18 Anthony Rose 18
Drink: 2014-2020
Alc: 14%

All leather and savoury on the nose – quite delicate. Super-succulent and concentrated cassis fruit richness supported by a cedar-spice element and bittersweet chocolate tones. Fine tannins; long & stylish.

Night Harvest, John George, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 17.5/20pts (91/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18.5 Pierre Mansour 16.5 Anthony Rose 17.5
Price: £25 (2010) The Wine Society
Drink: 2014-2030
Alc: 14.3%

Although on the nose it is somewhat closed, the richness hits the palate with great speed. Savoury, almost balsamic notes bring an appetising balance to this stylish red. The finish is clean and fresh with great depth of flavour.

Devil’s Lair, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 17.25/20pts (90+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18 Pierre Mansour 16 Anthony Rose 17.5
Drink: 2015-2020
Alc: 14.5%

Nice immediacy of cassis fruit on the nose supported by good richness of cassis fruit tinged with spice and chocolate on the palate. It has a certain restrained nature which is good as it will keep evolving.


Driftwood, Artifacts, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 17.25/20pts (90+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17.5 Pierre Mansour 16.5 Anthony Rose 17.5
Drink: 2014-2028
Alc: 15.5%

Lovely aromatics showing plenty of ripe cassis fruit infused with touches of mint, rosemary and garrigue-like herbs. This has a big, powerful flavour and a lip-smacking, textured finish.

Saracen Estates, Reserve, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2009
Decanter average score: 17.25/20pts (90+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17.5 Pierre Mansour 17 Anthony Rose 17.5
Drink: 2014-2018
Alc: 13.9%

Attractive notes of camphor, spice and berry fruit are followed on the palate by soft vanilla and then a gentle taste of fresh meat juices from a rare roast joint. An excellent, precise, balsamic finish.


Swings & Roundabouts, Backyard Stories, Margaret River 2012
Decanter average score: 17.25/20pts (90+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17 Pierre Mansour 17.5 Anthony Rose 17
Drink: 2014-2025
Alc: 14%

Focused and fresh with a hint of mint, and some smoky new oak too. Succulent black fruits with nice tannins that are well integrated on the palate. Full-bodied palate of blackberry and spice. Seamless and long.


Umamu Estate, Margaret River 2009
Decanter average score: 17.25/20pts (90+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18 Pierre Mansour 17 Anthony Rose 17
Drink: 2014-2020
Alc: 13.5%

Although the nose seems quite closed, the palate is delicious and silky-smooth, and is gushing with bright young fruit. This is supported by firm tannins and an almost saline acidity that is searingly fresh.


Xanadu, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 17.25/20pts (90+/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18 Pierre Mansour 17 Anthony Rose 17
Price: £18.99 Amazon UK, Carruthers & Kent, Enotria, Invinty Wines, The Fine Wine Co
Drink: 2014-2030
Alc: 14%

Restrained and fine with hits of mint and herb freshness. The palate is compact but nicely integrated and balanced with modest weight. A very gentle wine which will age with grace.


Rosily, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 17/20pts (90/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17 Pierre Mansour 17 Anthony Rose 17
Drink: 2014-2020
Alc: 14%

This is very pleasantly fragrant with a nice, sweet loganberry character. Round, supple fruit on the sweet mid-palate and some grainy, ripe tannins. Overall this is quite savoury and spicy; evolving well.


Stormflower Vineyard, Wilyabrup, Margaret River 2011
Decanter average score: 17/20pts (90/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 18 Pierre Mansour 17 Anthony Rose 16
Drink: 2014-2028
Alc: 14.5%

A rich bouquet that is quite intense but in a nice way. Gentle, smoky complexity on the round, smooth, generous palate, offering succulent loganberry-like fruit. A lovely wine that would be exceptional with food.


Voyager Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Margaret River 2009
Decanter average score: 17/20pts (90/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17.5Pierre Mansour 16.5 Anthony Rose 17
Price: £30.40 Justerini & Brooks
Drink: 2014-2026
Alc: 14%

Young, fresh, fragrant, leafy Cabernet with lots of cassis fruit and cedary vanilla oak. The palate is juicy and harmonious with medium length. The finish has a zingy, bright freshness of cherry fruit and should age well.

Woody Nook, Gallagher’s Choice, Margaret River 2010
Decanter average score: 17/20pts (90/100pts)
Individual judges’ scores: Roger Jones 17 Pierre Mansour 17 Anthony Rose 17
Price: £20 Woody Nook
Drink: 2014-2020
Alc: 14%

Fine nose of youthful blackcurrant fruit tinged with a nice leafy freshness. Big ripe flavours on the palate with lots of oak showing. This is a big boy with some lovely spices and quite different to the norm.

Source: http://www.decanter.com/wine/labels/34486/slideshow/0/coonawarra-margaret-river-cabernet-panel-tasting-resuts#slideshow