By Fergal Gleeson*

Because Winter is a season, not just a night we needed more Winter Warmers! Find below three more Bordeaux varietals from Margaret River to get you through the season…

 Clairault Cellar Release Petit Verdot 2012

Petit Verdot often makes up 1% or 2% of a Margaret River or Bordeaux blend. It’s added for fragrance. What does the 100% Petit Verdot by Clairault taste like? It’s fresh and medium bodied in weight. Tastes of bright red cherries and tobacco. A great mix of fruit and savoury flavours happening, this would make a killer lunch time red. So moreish my wife couldn’t keep her hands off it. This wine really is an undiscovered gem- try it!

RRP $35                www.clairaultstreickerwines.com.au

 

Cape Mentelle Wallcliffe Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc 2014

Estate Director Cameron Murphy is pretty excited about the newly released Wallcliffe Dry Red. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc from the original 1970 vines. “The 55% Cabernet provides the classic Margaret River backbone, structure and length. The 38% Franc provides the seductive, pretty floral characters. This assemblage is not uncommon in Bordeaux but unusual here.”

Given Cape Mentelle’s owners (LVMH) and Chief Winemaker are French, they can’t resist a few Gallic touches! If you’ve noticed the %’s don’t add up to 100%, I salute your maths! Merlot & Shiraz are the extras.

RRP $49                www.capementelle.com.au

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Vineyard Merlot 2014

Moss Wood make a powerful, concentrated and spicy merlot. It has proper grippy tannins. I recently tasted a wide range of Grand Cru Bordeaux in Sydney.  This Merlot would fit comfortably into that company.

Interestingly Clare Mugford, joint owner and winemaker was telling me that Moss Wood sell more of their Merlot in Asia and Europe than in Australia. A prophet unappreciated in his own land? Yes.  This is the equal of their cabernets for which they are better known.  Might well be Australia’s finest merlot.

RRP $60                www.mosswood.com.au

This is the second modified excerpt from an article, which appeared in the winter edition of Your Margaret River Region Magazine. For more Wine Reviews read and follow www.greatwineblog.com  Drink and be merry!

*Finalist- New Wine Writer of the Year 2016- WCA /Gourmet Traveller WINE