2015 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 2015 ‘Margaret’ is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 9% Malbec with maturation taking place in new French oak 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.

Seductive, polished and stylish this is an exquisite Margaret River Cabernets.

A totally opaque black dark red core shows excellent depth with a bright dark red black tinged hue. Perfumed like aromas of ripe red and blackcurrant laced with a hint of liquorice blossom from the glass followed by ripe mulberries, subtle dried tobacco characters, spicy vanillin cedar, faint earth and a trace of bay leaf as an end note. Rich, yet blessed with elegance and finesse the palate features mouthfilling flavours of ripe red and black currant as well as mulberries over spicy vanillin cedar, notions of tobacco, subtle dried herb infusions, light earth and traces of bay leaf. Very refined tannins seamlessly integrate with the fruit yet provide the framework for long term cellaring. Finishes with a lengthy conclusion of spicy red and blackcurrant fruit, mulberries, vanillin cedar, dried herbs, light earth and subtle bay leaf. Given that this is the smallest vintage of Woodlands Margaret on record stocks are obviously very limited.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews….
75% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot, 9% malbec. Deserves its place among the very best Bordeaux blends of Margaret River. The colour is perfect, the bouquet no less so with its wafts of red berries and violets, but it is the texture, balance and length of its palate that take t into another league. Its supple, velvety tannins (ex fruit and oak) are the clincher. Drink by 2035.
97 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion