The bouquet shows great density, ripe concentrated blackcurrant, anise, black cardamom and lifted lavender with hints of black olives and plum aromas. The entry on the palate is soft and succulent whilst displaying a subtle texture with a black core of fruit including boysenberry, dark cherries and olive tapinade. The tannin and acid are seamlessly integrated from the front through to the long and lingering finish.

This wonderfully elegant Shiraz shows intense, pristine, blackberry fruit and ripe, silky tannins. It almost has a Pinot Noir elegance to it and, luckily, the quality of future vintages will only be getting better too as Voyager's new clones come on line.

Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine of good structure and power. Bright red crimson in colour. Red currant fruits, a hint of violets and oak on the nose. This full bodied wine had great elegance on the palate and a lengthy finish. No doubt one of the best example of the region.

COLOUR Deep red with purple hues NOSE Enhanced fragrance of ripe black fruits, mulberry and cherry, woven with essence of fine oak maturation. PALATE An outstanding combination of fine black forest fruits and tannins balance with the fruit acid in perfect harmony. A wine of concentrated power that leave a rich, juicy, dry mouthfeel. VINTAGE The longest vintage many have experienced with late ripening due to the cool climate conditions in Margaret River. A mentally challenging year, where patience and hard work in the vineyard was rewarded with beautifully concentrated fruit.

Rich stone fruit core with butterscotch and smooth balanced oak.

It’s big and brooding. Think: blackberry compote, blackcurrant liqueur, charred herbs, dark chocolate. Rich cassis and plum jam, framed by cocoa and roasted spice. But it’s not just a fruit bomb—there’s a savoury edge too: dried thyme, graphite, and the iron backbone of old-school Cab. The skin contact gives tannins that are both fierce and finessed—grippy, chewy, and begging for meat or time.

Cullen, world famous for their Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot, have introduced another Cab Merlot, a distinguished offshoot of the Langton's classified Diana Madeline. Majority Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot and touch of Petit Verdot gives the wine a luscious, bright cherry flavour with red berries playing their part. Aged in French oak, 40% of which was new, for one year. Delicious to serve with veal, lamb or beef today, but will also reward up to 10 years in the cellar.

Woodlands Cabernet Merlot is one of the regions best examples. The Watson brothers are the custodians of a family heritage in Margaret River that continues to this day. The Cabernet Merlot has attractive and complex aromas of dark berry and plum supported by well integrated vanillin oak. The palate shows similar characters with outstanding length of flavour and perfect balance. Drink now or cellar short term.

Margaret River is an under appreciated region for Australian Shiraz, and it's hard to see why with Cape Mentelle's Shiraz showing a vibrant core of blueberry, mulberry and hints of raspberry. It is well balanced with cocoa and savoury oak. The palate yet, is fine, elegant and focussed, finishing with chalky and structural tannins.

LEEUWIN ESTATE Prelude Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River