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WOODLANDS Chloe Anne Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

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.

Tasting Notes: Select parcels from mature vines and an outstanding vintage combine to make this special wine with ripe blackberries and cassis balanced by savoury bay leaf, driving tannin and spicy oak. Season: Inclement weather at flowering during October and November, including cold night time temperatures and rainfall led to low yields across the region. Berry development was hampered by wet and very windy conditions in spring and early summer. Disease pressure was minimal although bird pressure occurred as a consequence of the delayed blossoming of Marri flowers. From early March an autumn weather pattern set in with the passing Cyclone Olwyn, the region experienced some rain with cooler night time temperatures. This effectively extended the ripening period for red wine varieties quite nicely giving them more hang time to enhance fruit development flavour profiles with softer tannin levels arising as a consequence. Winemaking: Handpicked in April in fine, warm conditions. Fermented in open fermenters with hand plunging and drain-and-return as required. Matured in the finest new and old French barriques.

Certified biodynamic and organic. Magnificent pitch black colour with a very deep bright dark red black hue. On the nose a lovely mix of red to black currant and mulberry scents morph into violet, vanillin cedar, dried herb, tobacco, black olive and spicy bay leaf notes. Medium bodied, elegant and superbly structured, the palate features a tightly knit matrix of red to black currant, mulberry and black olive flavours. Bright youthful acidity and an assertive grainy tannin structure provide an iron girder like core. Notions of tobacco, dried herbs, vanillin cedar and spicy bay leaf infusions also chime in. Restrained and understated in its power at present it concludes long and rich yet compact. Cellar 10-20 years. Alc. 13%

WOODLANDS Clémentine Eloise Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

One of the early pioneers of the Margaret River region, Woodlands' vineyards date back to 1973. As curator of these historic vineyards, Stuart & Andrew Watson have firmly re-established Woodlands into the top echolon of Margaret River producers. Sourced from an the outstanding 2008 vintage, the Shelley Anne Cabernet Sauvignon shows cassis, mulberry and blackcurrant with that typical bay leaf and cedar undertones. A wine that will live for well over a decade.

This Clare Valley Cabernet from Taylors shows ample varietal blackcurrant flavour seasoned with some attractive sweet oak. The tannins are firm but nicely in balance.