2014 Woodlands Margaret Reserve Cabernet Merlot Malbec

Proprietors, David and Heather Watson have always aimed to create wines that emulate the great vineyards of Bordeaux. Established in 1973 it was one of the first five vineyards to be planted in Margaret River. Sourced entirely from the Woodlands vineyard the 2014 ‘Margaret’ is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 8% Malbec with maturation taking place in French oak (50% new) for 18 months. The Cabernet Sauvignon portion comes from a slope on the south of Woodlands that wraps around a 90-degree radius from east to north. The fruit on this slope receives a great deal of direct sunlight from morning to mid-afternoon, leading to rich full-bodied wines. The Merlot and Malbec plots that make up the remainder of ‘Margaret’ come from a west-facing slope of deep loam soil. This slope receives the most direct afternoon sunlight at Woodlands, and produces more exotic fruit characters in the finished wine.

Composed and measured this outstanding Margaret River blend has a perfect marriage of fruit, finesse and structure.

Excellent colour displaying a totally opaque black dark red core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. The nose is a captivating sniff of black and red currant fruits intermixed with mulberries. Below these top notes are fine cedary oak, hints of tobacco, dried herbs and spice. On the palate exquisite rich fruit is married to an elegant mouthfeel and refined structure. Lengthy flavours of ripe blackcurrant, red currant and mulberries flow effortlessly across the palate with underlying cedary tobacco characters, dried herbs, traces of black olive and spice also present. A magnificently integrated and refined tannin structure provides the framework. Very long aftertaste of black and red currant, mulberries, cedary tobacco characters, dried herbs infusions and spice.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc 13.5%

Other Reviews....
Comprised of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 8% Malbec, the 2014 Margaret and is very deep purple-black in color with lovely blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, violet, cloves and cinnamon stick notes plus a touch of chocolate. Medium-bodied, taut and muscular, this blend has commendably firm tannins with a very long baking spice laced finish. A very classy Bordeaux Blend indeed. Drink 2017-2030
95+ points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate