Vintage	2022
Grape variety	44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Fer
Oak maturation	100% of the wine is aged in French oak barriques (19% new) for 18 months
Alcohol	13.8% Alc/Vol
Release date	July 2024
Colour	Medium-red with red-purple hue.
Aroma	Lifted and fragrant, the wine opens with raspberry, cassis, plum and lavender with subtle gravel dust, cedar oak and bayleaf.
Palate	Plump and full with a fleshy texture and silky tannins. There are bright fruit characters of red berry, plum and cassis with bayleaf and balanced cedar oak. A subtle but complex wine that’s all about drinkability.
Food matches	Meat dishes, saucy pastas and cheeses.
Peak drinking	Drinking well now but will develop further over the next 3 to 5 years.

Viticulture

Fruit is sourced from neighboring properties in the most northern sub-region of Margaret River (Yallingup). Meticulous management of bud numbers and shoot thinning continues to ensure a balanced canopy and full fruit ripeness. The 2022 vintage was a warm year in Margaret River, allowing plenty of time during February and March to ripen the fruit to our specification.

Winemaking

Each parcel of fruit was gently crushed into small open fermenters with traditional heading down boards where fermentation was carried out under strict temperature controlled conditions. Extraction was achieved by daily draining of wine away from skins and returning back over the top, with fermentation and maceration times varying from 7 to 30 days. The wine was pressed to tank, where 100% was sent to new and older French oak barriques to complete the primary and malo-lactic fermentation.

Storage / Bottling

After 18 months of ageing, the wine was carefully blended to achieve this friendly Margaret River style. Bottled in a premium claret bottle using a screwcap closure. This closure will ensure the wine retains its youth and fruit integrity.

Awards & Achievements

2021 Lifestyle Cabernet Merlot

Wine Showcase Magazine 2023 | 94 Points
Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2023 | Bronze
Wine Show of Western Australia 2023 | Bronze

2020 Lifestyle Cabernet Merlot

Australian Small Winemakers Show 2022 | Silver
Perth Royal Wine Awards 2022 | Bronze
Royal Hobart Wine Show 2022 | Bronze

2019 Lifestyle Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 92 Points
Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2021 | Silver
Royal Hobart Wine Show 2021 | Silver
Margaret River Wine Show 2021 | Bronze
Wine Show of Western Australia 2021 | Bronze

2018 Lifestyle Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 90 Points
Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2020 | Silver
Perth Royal Wine Awards 2020 | Bronze
Winestate Magazine, Best of the West Wine Show | 4.5 Stars
Winestate Magazine, Best of Varietal | 4 Stars
West Australian Wine Guide by Ray Jordan 2020 | 90 Points
Margaret River Wine Show 2020 | Bronze
Wine Show of Western Australia 2020 | Bronze

2017 Lifestyle Cabernet Merlot

The National Wine Show of Australia 2019 | Gold
Sydney International Wine Competition 2020 | Gold
James Halliday Wine Companion | 89 Points
Australian Small Winemakers Show 2019 | Silver
Perth Royal Wine Awards 2019 | Bronze
Wine Show of Western Australia 2019 | Bronze
Sydney Royal Wine Show 2019 | Bronze

2016 Cabernet Merlot

Silver Medal – Royal Sydney Wine Show 2018
Silver Medal – Langton`s Margaret River Wine Show 2017
James Halliday Wine Companion | 88 Points
Bronze Medal – Wine Show of Western Australia 2018
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2018
Bronze Medal – WA Wine Show (Mount Barker) 2017

2015 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 94 Points* (Plus selected as a Special Value Wine)
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2017

2014 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 94 Points* (Plus selected as a Special Value Wine)
91 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine 2016
Bronze Medal – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2016
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2016
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2016

2013 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 95 Points* (Plus selected as a Special Value Wine)
Gold Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2015
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2015
Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge 2015
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2015
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2015

2012 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 94 Points* (Plus selected as a Special Value Wine)
Silver Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2014
Silver Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2014
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2014
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2014
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2014
90 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2015

2011 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 96 Points* (Plus selected as a Special Value Wine)(Plus Best of Cabernet and Family 2015 List)
91 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2014
“Neat little blend of cabernet and merlot made in a restrained and keenly focussed style. It’s such a polished wine with fine tannin and well-weighted oak to support the medium-bodied fruit. Intense and flavoursome with a controlled finish. Polished and impressive at this price.”

91 Points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front 2014
“48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec – good to see a healthy mix of grapes. From Yallingup.
Dark fruit, gum leaf, seaweed, chocolate and mint. Medium to full bodied, fleshy and good to drink – red and black fruits, dark chocolate and tobacco – grainy tannin and pretty good length. Satisfying wine and fine value with it.”

Silver Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2013
Silver Medal – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2013
Silver Medal – Royal Queensland Wine Show 2013
91 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2014
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2013
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge 2013

2010 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 95 Points* (Plus selected as a Special Value Wine)
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2012
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge 2012
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2012
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2012

2009 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 91 Points
Gold Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2011

2008 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 93 Points
Gold Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2010
Silver Medal – Qantas Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge 2011
Bronze Medal – Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Comp 2010
Bronze Medal – Rutherglen Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2010
89 points, Ray Jordan: The West Australian, Sept 2010
3 Stars – Winestate Magazine, New Release Tasting 2010

2007 Cabernet Merlot

James Halliday Wine Companion | 90 Points
4 stars, Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller WINE Oct 2009
90 points, Gary Walsh: The Wine Front
87 points, Ray Jordan: WA Wine Guide 2010
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Rutherglen Agricultural Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2009