A Western Australia Mixed Case

Franklin Tate Cabernet Merlot

These Bordeaux varieties were processed individually with a portion fermented in open fermenters at temperatures up to 28°C. Control of tannin extraction and flavour preservation, were integral in the fermentation. Wine was pressed to Bordeaux style French oak, to complete malolactic fermentation. The wine was blended from its components after maturation. The Merlot adds plush fruit and leafy characters as well as providing juicy acidity, in contrast to the Cabernet Sauvignon’s structured, but ripe tannin profile.

For more information on the winery go to http://www.franklintateestates.com.au/

To see our range of Franklin Estate products go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/franklin-estate/

Franklin Tate Cabernet Merlot – great value wine from a Margaret River winery

Vasse Felix Estate Semillon/Sauvignon

Vasse Felix Estate Semillon/Sauvignon

Hamelin Bay Rampant Red

This wine has a generous mid-palate with long length of flavour and elegance.

An easy drinking red wine.

To find out more about the winery go to http://www.hbwines.com.au

To see our range of Hamelin Bay wines go to http://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/hamelin-bay/

Hamelin Bay Wines in the Margaret River wine region was established by the Drake-Brockman family in 1992.  The family-run vineyard near Karridale is now also home to a cellar door and restaurant.

Margaret River’s world-class wine region is located in the South West of Western Australia.  Surrounded by ocean, the area is blessed with a maritime climate; wet winters and mild, dry summers.  Fine wines, abundant local gourmet food, pristine beaches and majestic forests combine to make the region a favourite tourist destination.

Our unique Five Ashes vineyard is one of Margaret River’s most picturesque vineyards.  The moderate maritime climate and a north facing ridge of prime gravely loam soils are ideal for premium quality grape growing.  The exceptional wine produced reflects these superb natural attributes of our 26 hectare vineyard.  The Whites are positioned on a cool Easterly slope with soils varying from prized Forest Grove gravels to Karri loams, whilst the Reds are situated on a warmer North-facing slope beneath the cellar door on deep, dark gravel loams.  The Whites exude freshness and elegance, and the Reds have restrained power and depth, both with distinctive and intense characters specific to each particular variety, block and site.  From our very first vintage, our wines have won awards thanks to the outstanding terroir influenced by perfect gravel soils, select aspects, and cool moderate maritime microclimate.

Hamelin Bay Rampant Red

Driftwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Smooth and well balanced with layered red and black berry fruit, nougat and floral characters enveloped by soft and silky tannins, carrying the wine to a lingering sweetly fruity finish.

BLEND 91.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5.5% Petit Verdot, 2.6% Malbec, 0.4% Merlot COLOUR Vibrant, deep ruby red with purple hues. AROMATICS Lovely intense dark forest fruits and blueberries, a perfumed floral lift and dark chocolate notes with subtle integrated cedar oak and hints of liquorice. PALATE A beautifully structured full-bodied wine with powerful refined, supple tannins, harmonious oak and succulent acidity framing bright cassis, blue fruits and hints of aniseed and dark chocolate; resulting in an elegant complete wine of great length. OAK MATURATION 30% new 100% French Oak. 15 – 18 months in barrel. AGEING POTENTIAL Very Good – 10 years.

WINEMAKING All batches were inoculated with yeast and co-fermented with MLF bacteria. A combination of cold soak or extended skin contact for 35 days, using aerative and closed pump-overs ensured a range of flavour and tannin profiles, capturing the best qualities from each block. MLF was completed in tank before being racked to barrel for maturation. Following extensive sensory evaluation, batches including a small amount of petit Verdot and malbec were blended in August 2017 then allowed to integrate for a further 3 months in old oak.

VINTAGE 2018 Margaret River just keeps on giving, another great season that started early, continued warm, provided some nervous moments but finished solidly. Excellent canopy management in the vineyard and careful netting to protect against bird damage allowed the whites to build intensity of flavour and aromas in line with balanced acid. Harvest commenced on the 5th February with the final harvest being Driftwood’s newly grafted Cabernet Sauvignon in block 2 on 8th April, showing bucket loads of promise for the future. 

To find out more about the driftwood Estates Winery go to https://www.driftwoodwines.com.au/about-us/

To see our full range of Driftwood Estates wines go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/driftwood-estate-wines/

Driftwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – great wine from Western Australia

Three Lions Great Southern Chardonnay

The Plantagenet’s were the first truly armigerous royal dynasty of England meaning they were entitled to strike and bear various coats of arms. The arms of this noble, later royal, family, Gules, three lions passant guardant, termed colloquially “the arms of England” were first adopted by King Richard the Lionheart (1189–1199), son of King Henry II of England (1154–1189), son of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou (1113/17–1151).
These Three Lions signified royalty, history, power and a code of conduct that was instantly recognized wherever they were displayed.
So too with this range of wines. They are from the oldest established winery in Great Southern – they are wines with power and provenance. The Three Lion coat of arms of Plantagenet Wines is a recognized symbol of quality and prestige.

Three Lions Great Southern Chardonnay has lively flavours of grapefruit and lemon meringue are balanced by subtle richness, while nervy cool climate acidity brings great persistence and just a hint of minerality.

http://www.plantagenetwines.com/product/2017-Three-Lions-Chardonnay#.W5UtgfZFzIU

To see our full range of Plantagenet product go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/plantagenet/

Plantagenet has once again received an amazing result in the 2019 Wine Companion. We’re thrilled to say that he has rated no less than 9 of our wines at 90 points and above, with 6 of our wines receiving 94+ points – a truly outstanding result that we are very proud of. Please follow the link below for a full list of scores and reviews.
Read the full list of reviews here http://www.plantagenetwines.com/blog/2019-James-Halliday-Wine-Companion

Plantagenet Wines embodies the best of the west with its distinctive wines of finesse and elegance. As a pioneer of the Great Southern region, Plantagenet’s reputation is celebrated for its rich heritage, its expressive wines and family-owned sensibility, making it one of the most trusted wine brands in the country.
The rich tapestry of the Plantagenet story begins in 1968, when English migrant Tony Smith envisaged great things for his land in Mount Barker. With his small inheritance, he bought a farm called Bouverie in the Plantagenet Shire and literally planted the seeds of the Plantagenet future – Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes bore the fruit of what would become some of the most highly awarded and sought after wines, both nationally and internationally. The fruit was picked in 1974 and the wines showed exciting potential, enough for Smith to convert a local apple packing shed into a winery and get to work making tight and lean Shiraz with typical regional spiciness and full-bodied cabernet. Embracing the conditions of the Great Southern’s cool climate, Smith went on to plant further varieties, including Riesling, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyards all benefit from their coastal proximity, enjoying abundant rainfall and cool twilight breezes from the neighbouring Southern Ocean.

Three Lions Great Southern Chardonnay – a great wine from a historic line

Xanadu Exmoor Chardonnay

This bright and refreshing wine offers aromas and flavours of pear, grapefruit and nectarine with underlying hints of toast. It is medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and a crisp, lingering finish.

92 points James Halliday
White peach and grapefruit stand out on the bouquet: a little more subtle is a saline/oyster shell like character which adds some interesting minerality. Fruit drives the palate, and there’s plenty of it, with juicy stone fruit and citrus all the way. Barrel ferment contributes some creaminess of texture, and the acidity provides freshness and verve from start to finish. (8/2018)
91 points Wine & Spirits
Xanadu’s least expensive chardonnay is two-thirds fermented in barrel, the balance in stainless steel. Only about five percent of the finished blend has seen new oak, and the wine is so fresh you might think it’s unwooded. Bright, brisk, clean and clear, this tastes of green apple and chamomile, with tart notes of underripe peach and grapefruit. Ready to drink tonight with any fresh catch. (10/2018)

Details from the winery about Xanadu Exmoor Drive Chardonnay: “All components (the majority being Gingin clone Chardonnay) were pressed without crushing, retaining relatively high solids in the juice after settling overnight. 65% of the blend was fermented in seasoned French oak barriques (only 5% new oak in final blend), the remaining 35% of the blend was fermented in tank using an aromatic yeast strain. Wild fermentation was encouraged on barrel fermented components, in order to introduce complexity and personality into the wine. All of the individual barrel fermented batches which make up the blend were lees stirred throughout a nine-month oak maturation period, without any malolactic fermentation; gaining texture throughout the year. The final blend was put together in November 2017. Pale straw colour. The bouquet of this fresh, fruit-driven Chardonnay displays honeydew melon, pear, and citrus characters with underlying hints of loquats and hay. Oak is merely a bystander, yet its subtle influence adds another layer to the fruit aromas. The palate is medium bodied offering gala apples and stone fruits with a delicate creamy texture derived from lees stirring. A bright refreshing wine; crisp and dry, with a lingering fruit finish.”

For our full range go to https://www.auswinesonline.co.uk/product-category/xanadu/

For more information about this winery https://www.xanaduwines.com/

Xanadu Exmoor Chardonnay