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.

Sort By:

points

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)

points

Vasse Felix 1999 Heytesbury Red

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)

points

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)

points

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)

points

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)

points

Leeuwin Estate 2007 Art Series Chardonnay (Margaret River)

Online Exclusive

Price $89

One of Australia’s benchmark Chardonnays continues its roll, offering up opulent scents of vanilla, peach and mango. Tropical fruit and toasty oak flavors are easily carried by a lush, full-bodied delivery system that seems to unfold kaleidoscopically on the palate, finishing long and multilayered. On the conservative side, drink now–2015. — J.C. (2/1/2011)

points

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

Price $95

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)

points

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)

Most Reviewed Sub Regions

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

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Merlot Pinot Noir Red Blend Riesling Rosé Sauvignon Blanc Shiraz/Syrah Spanish White White Blend

Most Reviewed Wineries

Alkoomi Beckett's Flat Cape Mentelle Cullen Evans & Tate Howard Park Leeuwin Estate Plantagenet Vasse Felix West Cape Howe Wise Xanadu

2010 Buehler Estate

A pretty, polished and tasty wine for drinking now. Made from 100%…

(Sponsored)