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Western Australia Wines

Moderated by the cool oceans that border it, the Western Australia wine region is one of Australia’s most temperate grape growing regions. Margaret River is justly famous for the quality of its Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays, while other Western Australian GIs, such as Great Southern and Frankland River, excel with Riesling and Shiraz. Wine Enthusiast’s Western Australia wine guide features hundreds of Western Australia wine ratings and Western Australia wine reviews.

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Leeuwin Estate 2006 Art Series Chardonnay (Margaret River)

Cellar Selection

Price $89

Dramatic, with opulent honeyed peach and tropical fruit notes framed by smoky hints of roasted cashew and vanilla. Despite the flamboyant personality and full-bodied richness, there’s also a sense of elegance, and an intense, lingering finish. Drink now–2014, although some folks swear the Art Series will go even longer. — J.C. (7/1/2010)

Frankland Estate 2004 Isolation Ridge Vineyard Shiraz (Frankland River)

Editors' Choice

Price $30

This is the sort of Shiraz that forces tasters to re-examine their view of the variety as produced in Australia. It starts off with powerful aromas of cracked pepper and floral notes evocative of violets, then delivers explosively spicy flavors of pepper and licorice cushioned by ripe blackberries and a rich, supple texture. It’s the best of New and Old Worlds… — J.C. (12/31/2008)

Leeuwin Estate 2005 Art Series Chardonnay (Margaret River)

Cellar Selection

Price $89

This looks to be a top vintage for one of Australia’s most renowned Chardonnays. Like always, it’s big, bold and intense, with melon and pineapple fruit accented by toasted grain and slightly coconutty oak. Right now, it’s a little disjointed, showing a bit of unintegrated oak, but it should come together nicely in a year or two and last up to 10. — J.C. (6/1/2009)

Vasse Felix 1999 Heytesbury Red (Western Australia)

Editors' Choice

Price $40

A monumental wine. Black-purple in color, with massive, but juvenile, aromas of cassis and white pepper. Huge and explosive in the mouth, coating the palate with blackberry flavors, but very tannic and acidic now. — S.H. (12/15/2002)

Moss Wood 2006 Moss Wood Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River)

Price $95

Score Chasers: NZ & AU 2011

This is Margaret River Cab at its best: silky and Claret-like but with the extra flesh of the New World. Pipe tobacco and cedar flow together seamlessly into a long, cool finish. Delicious now, and should age gracefully through 2020. — J.C. (11/1/2011)

Cullen 2005 Diana Madeline Red Table Wine (Margaret River)

Cellar Selection

Price $94

With only 50 cases imported, this review will be of only academic interest to most consumers, but for those lucky enough to latch onto a bottle or two, try to hold off opening one until 2015 or so. Right now, it’s oh so promising, but also very tight. Scents of toasted almonds, vanilla and cassis only stubbornly emerge, and the wine is clearly packed with potential… — J.C. (9/1/2009)

Moss Wood 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $75

Operative words to describe this wine might include seamless and harmonious. There’s such wonderful integration of fruit and oak that it’s difficult to pick this wine’s flavor components apart—it’s a whirl of cassis and cedar, yet restrained; full-bodied, rich and dense without being heavy. Long and velvety on the finish, with enough soft tannins to last it 10–15 years. — J.C. (2/1/2008)

Vasse Felix 2003 Heytesbury Red (Margaret River)

Cellar Selection

Price $50

This is a wine that would benefit from further bottle aging: Just a little earth and anise come through on the nose. It’s tightly wound all around—a little lean, even—but pleasantly so, its juicy, tangy black cherry flavors and lively acidity dominating at this stage. Supple and layered on the palate and through the finish. Drink 2008–2012. — D.T. (10/1/2006)

Most Reviewed Sub Regions [All]

Blackwood Valley Frankland River Great Southern Margaret River Mount Barker Mount Barker & Margaret River Pemberton Swan Valley

Most Reviewed Varietals [All]

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Merlot Other Red Pinot Noir Red Blend Riesling Rosé Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon Shiraz/Syrah Spanish White Tempranillo Viognier White Blend

Most Reviewed Producers [All]

Abbey Vale Alkoomi Amberley Aquila Beach Head Beckett's Flat Brookland Valley Bush Bike Cameron Hughes Cape Clairault Cape Mentelle Capel Vale Celestial Bay Chalice Bridge Cullen Devil's Lair Edwards Element Evans & Tate Ferngrove Fire Gully Fishbone Flinder's Bay Fonty's Pool Four Emus Frankland Estate Goundrey Hamelin Bay Hay Shed Hill Hill of Content Hope Estate Houghton Howard Park Howling Wolves Indis Ironberry James Estate James Oatley Juniper Killerby Kiss Chasey Larry Cherubino Leeuwin Estate Mad Fish Mandu Marquee Mermaid Ridge Merops Moss Wood Nirvana Palandri Peter Howland Picardy Pierro Plantagenet Ribbonvale Ringbolt Robert Oatley Rocky Gully Salitage Sandalford Silverwing Strait Jacket The Wishing Tree Tyrrell's Vasse Felix Vasse River Voyager Estate Watershed West Cape Howe Wildberry Estate Willow Bridge Windshaker Ridge Wise Woody Nook Xanadu Xavier Flouret

2008 Solsticio

A big wine that handles its 15.3% abv. Smells of pastry, earth and soft…

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