Margaret River Vintage Vertical Series 1:
Woodlands, Flametree, & Howard Park
Decanter claims “Western Australia’s Margaret River is home to some of the world’s finest Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon”… and we agree!
Our first tasting in our Margaret River Mini Series explores eight wines, from three producers, across six vintages…at one relaxed tasting! Taste 3 mini verticals and compare how Margaret River Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon have evolved over time.
8 Margaret River wines including…
ALLINGHAM CHARDONNAYS: 2023 | 2022 | 2011 (First Vintage)
S.R.S. CABERNETS: 2018 | 2014 |2012
WOODLANDS CABERNETS:
2014 Matthew | 2011 Alex | 2007 Nicolas
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Saturday, January 17th
Margaret River Vintage Vertical Series 1: Woodlands, Flametree, & Howard Park
Tasting: 2pm - 3.30pm, 8 Wines and Nibbles | $145.00
[Limited to 15 Pax.]
Recent judging visits to Margaret River by leading international wine judges have weighed in and reinforced: that this is a region operating at an elite level. International Wine & Spirits Competition global judge Melania Battiston and Sarah Abbot MW, shared their thoughts on the region.
“We are now ambassadors of this region after this trip. It is our duty to communicate how refined these wines are, to source them, to place them on our lists, and to spread the word of Margaret River.”
- Melania Battiston, International Wine & Spirits Competition Judge“It’s an exciting and important time to be judging wines in Margaret River, and to be visiting the Great Southern. The wines have been brilliant for years, with some iconic and world-famous producers. But we are now seeing growing appreciation and valuing of the unique personality and elite quality of the region.”
- Sarah Abbot MW, International Wine & Spirits Judging Committee Member
Fellow judge Beth Pearce reinforced the point, describing Margaret River as “almost like an insider secret at the moment in the fine wine world,” recognising not just quality, but the region’s growing global relevance.
Margaret River
Extract from 'Huon Hooke’s ‘Introduction to Margaret River’…
“…It’s a toss-up which variety Margaret River does best: cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay. Cabernet wins if you consider there are relatively few places where cabernet excels. By comparison, chardonnay is a great traveller.
Cabernet wines can be quite leafy in cooler seasons and the less-expensive bottlings. These days, cabernet at the higher quality levels is elegant but seldom shows its greener features, which were evident in many of the earliest Margaret River cabernets that turned heads and won trophies with their highly aromatic style. Today’s cabernets are medium to full-bodied, with tannins that are ripe and supple. One rarely finds over-oaked wines. The preferred clone is probably the Houghton clone, a heritage clone originally sourced from the Houghton Swan Valley vineyard.”
The Producers in Context
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Founders David Watson and wife Heather had spectacular success with the cabernets he made in ’79 and the early ’80s. Commuting from Perth while raising a family became too much and for some years the grapes from Woodlands were sold to other Margaret River producers. With the advent of sons Stuart and Andrew in ’02–05 (Stuart primarily responsible for winemaking), the estate bounced back to preeminence, expanding with the purchase of the 17ha Woodlands Brook Vineyard in ’07. The top-end wines primarily come from the original Woodlands Vineyard, where the now-certified organic vines are 50+ years old.
James Halliday, Wine Companion
Established in 1973 by David and Heather Watson, Woodlands is one of Margaret River's first five wineries. Woodlands produces wine from its two vineyards, both located in the Wilyabrup Valley of Margaret River. The original Woodlands Vineyard is located on Caves Road, while the Woodlands Brook Vineyard is located two kilometres to the northeast. Woodlands' Vineyards are dry grown and maintained by hand using organic and traditional methods. Wines produced include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Merlot blends, and Chardonnay. All Woodlands wines are made on site by the Watson family.
The real Review
“The Watsons maintain a focus on traditional
winemaking with minimal intervention.”For nearly two decades, its Cabs were considered among Australia’s best. The winery’s 1981 Andrew Cabernet Sauvignon, named after their son, was the first Margaret River wine to receive a national red wine trophy, winning best red wine categories at competitions such as the National Wine Show of Australia, the Perth Wine Show and the Mt. Barker Wine Show.
From 1992 to 1999, the Watsons took a break from winemaking to send their two sons to school in Perth, selling their fruit to local premium wineries. When Andrew and his brother, Stuart, came of age, they, too, chose to live in Margaret River.
Woodlands was reborn, and the brothers didn’t miss a beat. With Andrew in his current role and Stuart as chief winemaker, the Watsons maintain a focus on traditional winemaking with minimal intervention. The family vineyards are dry-farmed, and they’re on track to be certified organic in 2018. A second vineyard, Woodlands Brook, purchased in 2007, will also likely receive the designation.
Cabernet Sauvignon shows up in several Woodlands blends, like the Margaret bottling. The winery’s top Cab follows the tradition of being named after a family member each year. Andrew describes its style in two words: “elegance and intensity.” It encompasses everything that’s great about top-notch Margaret River Cab
Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
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SRS Range: The pinnacle of our portfolio. Highlighting Margaret River's renowned sub regions, and the varieties that brought them to fame.
“The S.R.S. range – from the sauvignon blanc and chardonnay to this cabernet – is all about the best of the best for Flametree. They are a highlight, a testament to excellent fruit sourcing coupled with thoughtful winemaking.”
Jane Faulkner, Halliday’s Wine CompanionFlametree Wines Cellar Door and Winery is located on the picturesque shores of Geographe Bay and is conveniently located just off Caves Road between Busselton and Dunsborough. Owned by the Towner family, Flametree Wines is a proud team, committed to producing consistent, distinctive Margaret River wines while building on long term, loyal brand advocates through memorable wine experiences.
At just over 50years old, the Margaret River Wine Region has achieved international acclaim well in advance of its years and Flametree Wines is no exception, even in the midst of the older pioneering wineries.
Established in2007, Flametree has quickly become renowned for its award-winning Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines; the two hero varietals of Margaret River. Of the portfolio, the Flametree core range and the S.R.S. (Sub-regional Series)have achieved the highest degree of recognition from wine reviewers and the wine show circuit, with a long list of 95+ scores out of 100 and gold trophies. The Sub-regional Series is a powerhouse of elegant, complex styles which typify the remarkable attributes of each of the unique terroirs within the region.
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A Brief Family History
In 1988, Jeff and Amy Burch bought a pastoral property at Wilyabrup in the heart of the Margaret River with the intention of developing it for vines. This would ultimately become the Leston vineyard. In 1993 they became partners with John Wade in Howard Park, opening a winery and cellar door in Denmark in 1997. Jeff and Amy Burch took sole control of Howard Park in 1998.
Family has always been important at Howard Park. Jeff’s siblings were involved in the company for many years, and some of the vineyards and wines are named after or inspired by family members.
Today, together with daughter Natalie and son Richard, Jeff and Amy Burch continue the Howard Park story creating unique, distinctively regional wines.
The ‘Allingham’ Chardonnay
Allingham Chardonnay was first made in 2011 after the arrival of Chief Winemaker Janice McDonald, who was given free rein to create a flagship Chardonnay to sit alongside the Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon.
Located at Karridale, in the southern reaches of the Margaret River region, the Allingham vineyard was first planted in 2004. Additional Chardonnay blocks were established over time, including the cool climate Dijon clones and the Gin Gin clone, for which Margaret River is famous, which imparts complexity, texture and citrus flavour to the wine.
The Burch family purchased the Allingham vineyard in 2014, after a long history of using its fruit in its top Chardonnays.
Source: Ray Jordan's Margaret River Region Map
The Wine List
2022 Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay
Well, there have been some good ‘uns under this label but I reckon this might well be the best. It combines with subtle finesse the power of the fruit with an elegance and refinement to create an exquisite expression of the region. So much is happening in the palate with a merging of butterscotch, roasted nuts, brioche and lemon curd to create a layered complexity. A fine acid cuts through the creamy texture with such deft precision.
97 Points - Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com
2011 Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay
Cedar and spice, vanilla custard, nectarine, wheatgerm, grapefruit. Full flavoured, but medium bodied, sweet fruit pulled back by dry acid and flinty texture. Intense: it fairly bursts onto the palate. Big finish of nectarine, citrus and spice. Scored it at 93-94 on the first day’s tasting, then, as it showed better integration and more wow factor the next day, up it went.
95 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front [2013]
2018 Flametree S.R.S.Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep red/purple colour, opening with a smoked, burnt-timber overtone to the roasted meat aromas, cassis and cedar also visible. The palate is very intense as well as a little astringent. The rasping finish demands it be served with protein. Concentration and drive in spadefuls; it just needs more time to mellow and soften.
95 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review [ 28 Aug 2021]
Power and elegance in a glass. Both redcurrant and blackcurrant, bay leaves and black tea, olive, violets and dark chocolate. Its flavour profile is unmistakably cabernet, its flavours both bold and finessed at once; leaf notes and fruit notes work so harmoniously here. Tannin has an assertiveness too but not at the expense of the wine’s overall momentum. This is the kind of cabernet you could serve to anyone, anywhere, and it would impress.
94 Points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
2014 Flametree S.R.S.Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep, dark red colour with a purple tint and a fragrant ripe, rich, dark berry and chocolate aroma, with some earth and dried herb background notes. The wine is full-bodied, profound and has heaps of potential. It's concentrated and firmly structured, powerful and long. A wine of great potential. It just needs time.
95 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review [ 24 Dec 2016]
2012 Flametree S.R.S.Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep, dark, dense red/purple colour. The bouquet is oak-infused and chocolaty, the palate also chocolate-imbued and dense; fleshy and high-extract with plenty of 'chew'. There are some interesting meaty and feral 'funky' notes, and the wine has character and depth. It's not a monodimensonal varietal-fruit style. There's a lot here to enjoy.
94 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review [ 03 Jan 2015]
2014 Woodlands Matthew Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasted as a barrel sample that is due to come out of oak in two to three weeks' time from tasting, the 2014 Matthew Cabernet Sauvignon shows deep garnet-purple in color. On the palate, it is rich, ripe and very intense, with firm ripe tannins and great length. This wine has great potential!
95-97 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
Saturated ruby. A highly perfumed, penetrating bouquet evokes smoke-accented cherry, cassis, cured tobacco, potpourri and incense, and a vibrant, spicy topnote builds in the glass. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering sharply defined red and dark fruit, floral pastille, chewing tobacco and spicecake flavors that deepen with aeration. Seamless, focused and surprisingly delicate for its power, finishing very long and spicy, with resonating florality and polished tannins lending gentle closing grip. Drink 2023 - 2034.
96 Points, Josh Raynolds - Antonio Galloni's Vinous [June 2021]
2011 Woodlands Alex Cabernet Sauvignon
A 94/4/2% estate-grown blend of cabernet sauvignon, malbec and cabernet franc that spent 21 months in new French oak. Excellent colour; Margaret River blends don't come better than this, a wine that is strongly reminiscent of vintages 5 or more years ago that outscored First Growth Bordeauxs in blind tastings. In the manner of those Bordeaux wines, this will live for decades with its array of black fruits and firm tannins, and cries out for patience.
97 Points - Halliday Wine Companion [Jan 2014]
2007 Woodlands Nicolas Cabernet Sauvignon
Chocolate, gravel, dark olives, eucalypt. Screams Margaret River. Lovely to smell and then lovely to taste. Fine, rippling tannin. Flavours mirror the aromas. Picture perfect cabernet. Length and style. Very impressive wine.
95 Points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front