Vasse Felix, Margaret River's founding wine estate, was established by Dr Thomas Brendan Cullity in 1967. Among his first plantings were Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vines, from which he produced the estate's first red wine. The Tom Cullity descends from these original vines and represents the pinnacle of Vasse Felix. The inaugural release will be in May 2017, coinciding with Vasse Felix's 50th Anniversary.
Taking its name, appropriately enough, from Saint Martin, the Patron Saint of winegrowers, Clos Saint-Martin wines are renowned for their sensuous, opulent style - all lush, fruit-driven flavours and silken textures. This is embodied particularly beautifully in arguably the finest wine the estate has ever produced - the notoriously difficult to find 2005 Clos Saint-Martin. The winery dates back to the early 1800s and most recently changed hands in 2013, coming under the ownership of the Cuvelier family, who also own Clos Fourtet. Managed under the partnership of Michel Rolland, the evolution of Clos Saint-Martin continues to unfold in the most interesting (and delectable!) of ways.
From a 37-acre vineyard, Château Pavie Macquin is stunningly situated on the clay-limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion on the right bank of Bordeaux. 2010 has produced a formidable wine: a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a top release of the harvest year and a highlight from St-Émillion in 2010. Tannins, restraint and inward concentration are motifs, this is a wine for the patient, sophisticated collector who wishes to embellish a cellar with pedigree wines that need time and maturity to come to the fore.
Wendouree Shiraz Mataro is deep in colour, has blackberry and liquorice core and hugely famous tannins. The wines from Wendouree are honourable wines - highlighting the connectivity of winemaker, traditional wine-making practices, regional characteristics and vineyard personality.
With plenty of blackberry, plum, mulberry and menthol-like fruit and fine, rusty, almost unyielding tannins, this is a strong, firm wine by Wendouree with plenty of lasting power. The Shiraz component derives from vineyard plots that include bush vine material. Parcels of very old vine Malbec bring further distinctiveness. The wine is vinified in open fermenters and matured for 12 months in new and used French oak.
This wine is the flagship of Domaine A and is only produced in vintages of exceptionally high standard. The bouquet shows classic Cabernet varietal aromas and the palate is long and concentrated.
Dark garnet in colour with pronounced dark fruits, mint and oak on the nose. Another classic from the winery that showcase the regions true character. Full bodied mouth-fill with similar quality from the nose, a hint of metallic aftertaste on the palate. Gracefully lengthy finish.
A producer of distinction, Howard Park fashion wines with that rare and beguiling combination of elegance and power. Favourably likened to the great wines of Bordeaux, this wine will reward careful cellaring for many years.