By Fergal Gleeson
Flowstone Wines Moonmilk 2018 RRP $20
Stuart Pym has had a stellar career as Winemaker at Voyager Estate, Devils Lair and Stella Bella Wines before starting Flowstone Wines, a small but perfectly formed venture!
Moonmilk is Margaret River exotica made up as it is of Savagnin, Viognier, Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc. Three of those four varietals are extremely rare in the region and I don’t believe this blend has been tried by anyone else before. It works! It’s crisp and vibrant with the different varietals each strutting their stuff as you taste. The wine has a long finish.
For those who follow the road less travelled the single varietal Gewürztraminer is also a treat. Stuart’s Sauvignon Blancs are frequently rated the best in the region. Cellar Door visits can be arranged by appointment.
Aravina Estate Block 4 Chenin Blanc 2017 RRP $35
A delicious and balanced wine from Aravina’s 30+ year old Chenin vines, which are the oldest in the region. This wine has all the complexity of a luxury Chardonnay. Hand harvested, whole bunch pressed straight to new (18%) and old French oak puncheons where natural ferment was undertaken and maturation occurred for 9 months.
It offers beautiful red apple flavours complimented by good quality oak. Chenin like high quality Riesling or Semillon is highly age worthy and winemaker Ryan Aggiss advises that it can be cellared for 15+ years. That will challenge your willpower because it’s drinking beautifully now.
Aravina Estate is a well- known tourist destination in Margaret River, apart from the cellar door there is a restaurant, sports car gallery, a kitchen garden and the West Australian Surf Gallery.
Sweet
Juniper Estate Cane Cut Riesling 2018 RRP $27
How sweet it is! This is a beautiful dessert wine from Juniper Estate where honey and marmalade flavours are enhanced by refreshing acid so the wine is balanced and in no way cloying. It takes a lot of technique to make this style of wine. Judgment about when vine canes are cut to restrict water and concentrate sugar. But veteran winemaker Mark Messenger is a dab hand at this. Cap off a feast or just sip it on it’s own and enjoy. The Juniper Cellar Door won the 2019 award for ‘Best Large Cellar Door in Margaret River’ from Gourmet Traveller Wine. It is open daily.
From Your Margaret River Region Magazine
greatwineblog 