Six
wines from
Margaret River
Margaret River Wines Limited
Woodside House, Woodside Park, Catteshall Lane, Godalming, Surrey
GU7 1LG
Tel: 01483 791714 Fax:
01483 791702
E-Mail: sales@margaretriverwines.co.uk
Website: www.margaretriverwines.co.uk
This is a small outfit importing some interesting
boutique wines from the Margaret River region of Western Australia.
They’ve restricted their activity to just three producers, Adinfern,
Beckett’s Flat and Churchview Estate. I tried six of them and came
away impressed with the quality. They are available to private
customers by the case quantity: prices range from about £90 up to £129
per dozen.
Beckett’s Flat
Chardonnay 2002 Margaret River, Australia
Fermented in new French oak. Very forward, ripe nose of tropical
fruit and figs, with coffee and spice notes. The palate is savoury,
spicy and quite structured with concentrated, rich fruit and quite a
bit of oak. It’s a big, oaky Aussie Chardonnay, but quite classy
with it: if you like the style this is a winner. Very good/excellent
90/100 (07/04)
Beckett’s Flat Shiraz
2003 Margaret River, Australia
Appealing savoury, spicy, almost tarry nose with elegant red
fruits. The palate has nice weight, spicy tannins and good acidity.
Typically Australian but nicely balanced: an impressive wine, with
prominent but well-judged oak. Very good/excellent 91/100 (07/04)
Adinfern Shiraz 2002
Margaret River, Australia
An open, sweet, ripe nose is slightly jammy with subtly
vanilla-laced black fruits. The palate is sweet and supple with
alluring fruit. Initially a little oaky, it emerges with some more
floral, violet-like notes after a while – this is clearly a big
style, but the quality is there. Very good/excellent 90/100 09/04
Churchview Estate Premium
Range Riesling 2003 Margaret River, Australia
Fresh, perfumed nose of lemon and lime. The palate displays
concentrated lemon and lime notes with a lovely fresh intensity. Good
balance here with a savoury, almost structured character. Lovely
stuff. Very good/excellent 90/100 (07/04)
Churchview Estate Premium
Range Marsanne 2003 Margaret River, Australia
Very ripe, slightly sweet rich fruit on the nose: it’s quite
tropical, with a herby edge. The palate is bold, rich and quite
viscous with dense herb-tinged fruit. Quite alcoholic in a low acid
style, but this could be a perceptual effect caused by residual sugar.
Very approachable. Very good+ 88/100 (07/04)
Churchview Estate Premium
Range Cabernet Merlot 2002 Margaret River, Australia
Ripe open nose of pure blackcurrant fruit with a subtly smoky,
spicy edge. The palate shows generous blackcurrant fruit with a
savoury, chalky, slightly herbaceous character. Nicely balanced and
expressive, this is an astute commercial wine. Very good+ 88/100
(09/04)
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