Margaret River Trip

[Croquet King]

Just got back and here are some notes. (for those that haven't read it else where)

Trip to Margaret River

Wines I was looking for (remember this when reading the below notes)
Apart from a general tasting I wanted to find a big oaky burgundian style chardonnay and a dusty, earthy regional Cabernet.
This dictated a lot of the wines I tried.
We went to 15 wineries in total.

Cape Mentell
Nice cellar door, served by cellar door manager and had an interesting chat, no top end wines on tasting.

Redgate
Average wines.

Leeuwin Estate
Brilliant cellar door experience. Tasted all the art series including 05 Chard, 06 Shiraz and 01, 03 and 05 cabernet. Art gallery downstairs very interesting. Not charged for any tasting. 03 Cab very good

Amberley Estate
Wines ok friendly staff

Moss Brothers
Very good 03 cabernet (started with a W but can't remember the name exactly) we were the only ones there so had a good chat to the winemaker.

Lenton Brae
Surprise winery. Good chardonnay and if you like it ssb. $20 cab sav good value

Woodlands
Only had the 06 Cab Merlot on tasting for the reds. A bit light. Friendly staff and had a great chat with David the old winemaker. Very interesting.

Juniper Estate
Friendly cellar door. Wines good but not brilliant. Great tasting glasses

Cape Grace
Small winery that made a blockbuster Cab Sav. Tried both 04 and 05. Both good. Again another good chat with the winemaker

Edwards
Wines average. Chardonnay talked up by other cellar doors didn't do it for me.

Voyager
Very big cellar door with nice gardens. A tourist themed winery. Tried a few wines which were good but expensive compared to normal retail.

Vasse Felix
Nice looking cellar door. Staff excellent and tried the entire range without charge. They even went upstairs and got some of the sparkling shiraz Black Knight for me to try. It is cellar door only.

Fermoy Estate
Nice smaller winery. Again only ones there so had a good chat. Very good Cab Sav for about $25. Great tasting glasses.

Willespie
Promote themselves as the aged wine specialists. All wines were past there best with some porty characters

Sandalford
Very good wines and good value. Premium range at about $33 very good. Best chardonnay for my tastes for the whole trip. Cab sav and shiraz also excellent.


Best wines of the trip
Chardonnay
Sandalford 05

Cabernet
Leeuwin 03
Moss Bros 03
Fermoy 04

SSB
Lenton Brae 0?

Shiraz
Sandalford 05 or 04 (not sure so need to check my notes)

Other things we did
Busselton jetty - 1.8km out to the end. Walked it twice for some reason. Went into the underwater observatory which was very good.
Cape leeuwin lighthouse - About an hours drive south. Where the indian and southern oceans meet. Went up the lighthouse. Great views.

Accommodation
Stayed at Basildene Manor. Excellent. Built in 1910.

Other tips
Got dinner from Blue ginger café. Meats, olives, cheese and bread. Ate it with wine in the grounds of our hotel. Did this twice.

[Duncan]

If you're looking for a Burgundian Chardonnay from WA, though perhaps more oily and less oaky, try the Picardy (Pemberton).
I'll have to try the Blue Ginger Cafe.