Sandalford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is simply put, a sensational wine! Complex on the nose with violets, tomato leaf, cigar box and spice, it is beautifully structured on the palate, with rich fleshy fruit filling out the tannin backbone.

Redolent of blackcurrant and fresh bay leaves, soft, juicy and finely structured. A great example of this blend so well suited to Margaret River.

The Woodlands Margaret is, true to its name, a realisation of all that is great about Margaret River, arguably Australias home of the Bordeaux style. Sourced from the Woodlands Vineyards in Wilyabrup this is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 8% Malbec. Considering the price of the Watson familys flagship, the Margaret offers truly outstanding value.

Deep purple colour with lifted, rich and ripe fruit with balanced oak flavours. Medium bodied palate with fine deep tannins and a succulent deep fruited finish.

This wine shows the style of the vintage and quite likely the impact of the small crop. In such years, Cabernet Sauvignon in particular, has a complex but somewhat subdued nose, where the wine hints of the underlying power and complexity but takes years to reveal its true colours. So here we see smouldering red currant, black currant and mulberry, with a floral, violet lift, sitting over cedar and tar. On the palate there is concentration and length - dark fruits combining with firm tannin and leather and tarry notes.

Colour and Condition: Deep brick red hue; bright condition. Nose: A really youthful appeal, with an immediate impression of dark fruit aromas black berries, mulberries and black currants. A second viewing shows the beginnings Merlots darker side, with tar, leather and earth just starting to add complexity into the background. Palate: The classic Merlot palate, with rich, dark berry flavours like black jubes filling the front and mid palate. Firm tannin then takes over and gives the wine a linear, astringent but not too aggressive finish, which is juicy and concentrated.

Rich purple/red with a vibrant purple rim. Distinctly Margaret River; driven by aromas of blackberry, plum, bay leaf and a touch of black olive. The Merlot and Malbec add texture, balance, length and a luxurious fragrance to create a seamless and unique red. A dry, warm season was punctuated with a tropical rain event in January. This pushed back harvest and allowed for better balance during ripening. The resultant fruit had wonderful thick skins, incredible concentration and excellent varietal identity. The Cabernet was harvested late-morning, to ensure the fruit reached the winery warm to ensure a healthy, even fermentation. The Merlot and Malbec fruit was harvested during the cool of the early morning so it could be cold soaked on skins for 5 days prior to fermentation. The selectively harvested fruit was fermented over 10 days, with the Merlot and Malbec undergoing partial wild fermentation. The Cabernet remained on skins for 20 days to ensure a beautiful, vibrant colour. All elements were then matured in French oak for up to 15 months. Each individual barrel was assessed to determine which were included in the final blend.

LEEUWIN ESTATE Prelude Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River