Winter New Kids on the Block  Tasting Dozen

1999 Charlotte Street Chardonnay Semillon

Medium straw colour with slight green hues. The nose is enticing peach and honey dew melon with distinctive Chardonnay varietal characters. There is also generous fruit and a nice semillon grassiness. The palate is silky with broad soft flavours of stone fruit and melon. There is excellent acid balance and a long dry tangy finish to the palate. A delightful blend that draws on two great Margaret River varieties.

1999 Charlotte Street Shiraz Chardonnay Cabernet

Lifted cherry and raspberry aromas with some nice stewed and complex fruit characters. The palate offers up some soft chewy flavours, with plum, cherry and raspberry to the fore. There is also a pleasing touch of spice and pepper intermixed with sappy Pinot-like characters. Velvety tannins and some nice rich chocolate and moccha flavours on the finish. A good distinctive fruit-driven wine.

1999 Bunker Bay Chardonnay

This vibrant wine shows aromas of combined pineapple, melon, custard and hints of lemon. These flavours persist with great length and are complimented by the delicate finesse of French oak. This trademark style sees all components working together without the domination of fruit or wood. The wine is made from carefully selected Margaret River fruit and displays wonderfully its extended lees contact with new French oak.

1998 Bunker Bay Cabernet Merlot

Here is another fine example of this popular blend of classic Bordeaux varieties. The 1998 vintage is heavily perfumed, with cassis, black cherry and antique shop cedar dominating. Cassis follows through to the palate, which is soft and supple with powdery tannins and well rounded with French oak. The blend comprises 67%o Cabernet Sauvignons and 33% Merlot. The combination is a rich, soft, elegant wine that will age well.

1999 Sandalford Element Chardonnay

Here is a wonderful, easy-drinking Chardonnay that draws on a number of fruit sources. The bouquet is reminiscent of ripe peaches underpinned by subtle oak characters. On the palate there is rich and creamy flavours, touched with a little citrus and subtle stone fruit nuances. A wine that has an abundance of chardonnay flavour and some complexity from barrel fermentation and skilled blending of fruit.

1999 Sandalford Element Shiraz Cabernet

Boasting a vibrant bright red colour, this full wine has spicy shiraz characters and berry nuances on the bouquet. The attractive palate is ripe and fleshy with an abundance of varietal fruit coming through. Soft and medium bodied, good fruit flavours, lovely supportive oak characters and moderate tannin. Although excellent drinking upon release, this style traditionally benefits from short to medium term cellaring.

2000 Deep Woods Verdelho

This is a bit of a collector's item. The wine is one of the first released from the 2000 vintage, and is already wonderfully rich and full of distinctive varietal fruit flavours. The bouquet of the wine exudes ripe passionfruit and citrus aromas, with the palate showing very attractive pineapple and grapefruit flavours, yet finishing pleasantly crisp. An excellent wine for drinking already, but will also improve with a few years in bottle.

1999 Deep Woods Cabernet Sauvignon

This full-bodied wine is an excellent example of the consistently high standard of Cabernet fruit in the Margaret River region. It is a most attractive style with soft red fruits, chocolate flavours, subtle oak and well integrated tannins. Twelve months in French oak and blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the wine has emerged elegant and sophisticated. Best with a few more years ageing, however eminently approachable right now.

1998 Fonty's Pool Chardonnay

Here is a real treat from a very impressive young label. Kumquat and honeyed apples give this white a fragrant lift, backed by notes of shortbread, melon and white peach. The palate is rich and creamy with a fine powdery texture, finishing with refreshing acidity. This is an excellent food wine and would be ideal with fish or poultry. A wine to be enjoyed at release or cellared medium to long term.

1998 Fonty's Pool Pinot Noir

Pinot is a fickle variety in Western Australia, however there are some shining lights that emerge from the various micro-climates. The Fonty's Pool is one of them. It offers up distinctive Burgundian aromas of smoky bacon, raspberries and cherries. These characters follow through on the palate, which is textured by smooth fine tannins and well-balanced acid. It finishes clean and long. Great drinking at present but will benefit from short ageing.

1999 Saracen Estate Sauvignon Blanc

This new wine follows in the long-standing tradition of fine regional Sauvignon Blanc. The grape does extremely well on the Cape and this wine is no exception. The nose is typically rich in fruit but also boasts the distinctive herbaceous notes for which the area is renowned. The palate is clean and rich in citrus, melon and grassy flavours. A long, vibrant finish with lingering varietal fruit ends off a very nice white indeed.

1998 Saracen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Perhaps the most outstanding thing about this wine is the rich and powerful fruit. It charges through in true Margaret River style. The nose is dark berries and cassis. The full, fruity flavour expands on the palate and is only subtly veiled by background oak. Having been soft pressed, the wine exhibits a smooth velvety finish. Drinking well now, but will have a long and distinguished life of up to 15 years in the cellar.

New!........ MR Wines!

1999 MR Wines Unwooded Chardonnay

1999 MR Wines Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc

1999 Scully Shiraz Cabernet

1998 Devil's Lair Chardonnay

1997 Devil's Lair Cabernet Merlot

1999 Devil's Lair Fifth Leg White Blend

All of the above wines may be available from our Online Catalogue. Search our database for your favourite or maybe that hard to find wine.