SINCE 2002, when it began to refocus on its Wilyabrup vineyard at Margaret River, Sandalford has produced some excellent verdelhos and rieslings and gold medal-winning chardonnays, semillon sauvignon blancs (this year at the National Wine Show in Can
In that year winemaker Paul Boulden chose to release a new premium cabernet sauvignon, The Prendiville, to rival the quality of the region’s finest internationally known names – and he succeeded. The 2002 Release (18.5 points and ) and the current 2003 Vintage (18.3 points) are to be followed by the 2005 vintage, which is once again among the region’s greatest (18.5 points) from one of its finest years.
The cabernet sauvignon label is just as consistent and is very close to the finest in its own price range. The 2002 release was a fleshy and friendly stunner and the lean and very long 2003 and 2004 wines, which will need a couple of years to blossom, (all at about 18.1 to 18.3 points) are soon to be followed by the 2005 (18.3 points and ). The 2005 release stood out in a recent cabernet tasting.
Champagne
The BWS exclusive champagne import, Pol Gessner ( 18.7 points, .95 and in a buy), was the best value wine at one of the Wine and Food Society’s Barry Weinman’s recent masked champagne line-ups, a little ahead of Liquorland’s Cattier NV. The Vintage Cellars and Liquorland teams had their own winner with a personal favourite, the Drappier Signature NV (18.8 points and .95 and .95 in a buy).
Of the better known brands, the Non Vintage Pol Roger (18.8 points, at under on special) and both Veuve Cliquot and Charles Heidsieck (on 18.9 points) were the finest. Both sell at about , though at this time of the year are often on special at well below this. These latter two in particular provide what is expected of every glass of champagne, a mouthful of absolute joy.
Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon
The Vasse Felix vineyard and winery at Margaret River is part of one of the world’s great 16 wine regions.
The Holmes a Court family recently hosted a tasting of 27 vintages of cabernet sauvignon (1979-2005) to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the winery.
Four days later, former bank executive and major sports sponsor turned golf administrator, RHC Turner, opened a bracket of cellared 70s reds that included a virtually perfect bottle of the 1977 Vasse Cabernet (18.3 Points).
At the subsequent dinner to mark the anniversary, generously contributed to by the region’s other four founding wineries, Moss Wood, Cullen, Cape Mentelle and Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix’s premium cabernet, The Heytesbury (18.5 Points), shone and was the wine of the night on my card.
The Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon sells for and, as indicated above, will blossom for over 20 years if stored properly.
jjens@invinity.com.au