Prominent Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon

Margaret River is renowned for its excellent quality Cabernet Sauvignon.  The wines tend to be medium bodied, very perfumed and elegant in style, with powdery emery fine tannins and crisp acidity.  The wines are suited to long term cellaring.

Many of the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are based on the Heritage “Houghton” clone selection. This produces low crops of very small berries with particularly fine tannin structure.

Descriptors: perfumed, cassis/blackcurrant, redcurrant, cedar, bay leaf

 

 

Chardonnay

Margaret River produces world class Chardonnay.  The wines are concentrated yet refined, with a high degree of complexity from winemaking.  They have savoury complexity from natural fermentation in French oak barrels and layered textures from maturation on lees.

Many of the Chardonnay vineyards are based on the Heritage “Gin Gin” clone selection. This produces low crops of tiny bunches with “hen and chicken” berries.  These tiny berries provide intense fruit concentration and mineral acidity and produce a distinctive Margaret River style.

Descriptors: mandarin, grapefruit, nectarine/white peach, gunflint, nougat

 

 

 

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends

Margaret River produces its own distinctive white wine blend, using Semillon and Sauvignon blanc.  The wines are lively, fresh and fruit driven with many producers employing barrel fermentation for added complexity, weight and concentration. These wines are very well suited to matching with a variety of food, in particular the abundant seafood of this coastal region.

Descriptors: gooseberry, passionfruit, lime, lemon curd

 

Shiraz

Margaret River’s second most planted red variety is Shiraz.  The wines tend to be a full-bodied style with perfumed, fruit driven aromas with ample forest fruits on the palate.  The wines are suited to medium term cellaring.

Descriptors: mulberry, blackberries, plum, spice, violets

“Cabernet Sauvignon is without a doubt the star of Margaret River. The variety thrives here, largely due to the constant sea breeze which manages to protect the area from extreme temperatures in winter and summer.”

Christelle Guibert, Decanter

“Bordeaux varieties are at home in Margaret River, and winemakers here have been producing Cabernet Sauvignon, and Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc, at a consistently high standard for the last decade.”

James Lawther MW

"It's difficult to argue with the proposition that Margaret River is Australia’s foremost region for Chardonnay."

James Halliday, Wine Companion

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