Bob McDonald

9.4

The 2nd of two vintage Cape Mentelle wines for Sunday lunch. A medium plus crimson red in colour. Notes of mulberry and herbaceous Margaret River characters. Even at 15 years a whiff of French oak. With time in decanter sweet red and black fruits revealed themselves on the medium plus bodied palate. Finishing with velvety tannins. A classic Margaret River Cabernet from a good vintage - the first of 4 bottles from the cellar. Loved this with a Porterhouse Waygu score of 4. Cape Mentelle was one of the early stars of Margaret River, with David Hohnen at the helm they won 3 Jimmy Watson trophies in a row in the early 1980s. Nowadays owned by LVMH. Had another 52 weeks later on 7th January 2024 with consistent notes. Still have 2 left. Have next in 2025 and then the last one anytime up to 2028. I ended up having the 2nd last one on 8th June 2024 with consistent notes as previous. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Pale to Mid Crimson in colour. Red cherry and a tarry note . 80% whole bunch in the ferment. On the palate red and black cherry (flesh and skins). A fuller style - medium weight + palate. Mornington Peninsula is very good for Pinot Noir and this was the first Pinot to win the prestigious Jimmy Watson Trophy for Best One Year old Dry Red at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Delectable this is the Single Block Pinot Noir not the Syrah. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

At the Woodlands Dinner at Walters Steak House in Brisbane last Wednesday hosted by one of the family owners, Andrew Watson. The premium cuvée each year is named after Family members or friends. 2014 was “Matthew “. Drinking a 5 year old Cabernet of this quality from Magnum is akin to infanticide but one can see the undoubted potential there. Cellar for up to 20 years. Definitely one of the icon Cabs of Margaret River. A lovely blend of Cassis and Herbaceous notes. Medium to full bodied with a finish that goes on forever. Outstanding. — 6 years ago

Scott Taddeo

8.9

Jimmy Watson winner. Not bad, always nice to see tannin in Grenache and avoids that sense of sweetness. Just didn’t quite feel composed. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Deep Crimson. Aromas of Cedar, Bay Leaf and dried Herbs. A totally balanced and seamless claret - very good for Woodlands 2nd ranked Cuvée but not as long lived as I thought it would be when first tasted 5 years ago. Hats off to Stuart and Andrew Watson - a very Good Cabernet Blend with great QPR. Tasted again 272 weeks later on 24th June 2022. From the excellent 2009 vintage. Andrew Watson said to drink the 2010 before the 2009 which was the better vintage. All the Cab descriptors including bay leaf, blackberry and Margaret River herbaceous notes. Great QPR. Had the last 2009 Margaret on 11th April 2024. Certainly needed to be drunk at 15 years of age. A little tired and descending off the plateau. Still good for a 2nd wine. 90 points. — 8 years ago

Erin Grimm

9.1

@Patty Grimm you would love this. — 9 years ago

Brendan Wright

8.9

Green bell pepp, white pepper, good acid — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

See previous notes from 28 July 2021. Barb thought raspberry, cherry also herbs and earth. Really enjoyed this and can see why it won the most prestigious Trophy on the Australian Show Circuit, the Jimmy Watson Trophy for the best one year old dry red at Royal Melbourne. Always difficult to source Jimmy Watson winners. This SGM Blend was the last of 2 bottles — 4 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

@Daron Watson And this is a good one too. — 5 years ago

Jon Tate

9.0

The palm with Cary Watson for GMRC — 6 years ago

Andrew Whittle

Co-Owner/Director Summit Estate Wines

9.8

2007 vintage- 2008 Jimmy Watson winner - a privilege for a Margaret River tragic! — 7 years ago

Richard Smith

9.0

Extremely fruity, very smooth. — 8 years ago

Joe Kramer

8.9

Pepper on the nose. Jammy fruits — 8 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.3

It ain't even out yet! Thanks @Jake Watson for the preview bottle- it showed very well with the halibut en pappiot that Cinnamon made. Big time porcini aromas in this fully mature, bronze 15 year on the lees bottle. — 9 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.5

The 2014 Jimmy Watson winner, and what a ripper it is. Needed a decant and a good splash to open up and reveal all the blue and black berry fruit and spice that made this such an enticing wine in its youth. Elegant, savoury and delicious! — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Wine No. 8 in the field of 8 Cabernets from the 2009 vintage tasted blind and it proved to be the consensus Winner by a narrow margin over the Les Forts. I loved this and the Palmer 8 years ago at the Cape Mentelle tasting and they remain stunning wines. A wonderful perfume of red flowers, plums, and earth. Medium to Full Bodied with great length. Two of the tasters, long time wine professional, Ken Gargett and Dr Mark Welsh ( head of the Chevaliers in Australia) each gave this wine 98 points. This was Margaret River at its best. Bravo Woodlands and the Watson Family!! — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Bright crimson in colour. Tarry tertiary aromas ie Savoury over fruit. Palate is light to medium bodied with medium plus intensity. Sweet compared to the Bell Hill had the night before. 80% whole bunch ferment (stalkiness) is in balance with the high quality Pinot fruits. Drinking at its peak. The winner of the Jimmy Watson Trophy In 2013 at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show for the best One Year old Dry Red In somewhat controversial circumstances over the Giant Steps entry. — 6 years ago

James Wells

9.2

So fresh and delicious from their Watson Vineyard In Napa. A fantastic new world Chardonnay that seems too good to be true for the price! With my mother — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

The Jimmy Watson Trophy is awarded to the best one year old Dry Red at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show and is highly sought after, guaranteeing an immediate sell out. To complicate matters only 250 cases of this wine were made and this wine won the 2011 JW Trophy. I managed to buy 2 bottles and this is my first and it is superb. Made by SA Shiraz Royalty in Nick Glaetzer from Tasmanian cool climate Shiraz. Aromas of Pepper, Egyptian spices, Incense. On the medium bodied palate spicy red fruits and more white pepper finishing with soft supple fine tannins. An absolutely lovely Northern Rhone style. Would defy anyone to pick this blind as an Australian Shiraz. — 8 years ago

Yoko Fukuda

9.1

Medium body, very nice combination with cheese! Recommended by the Watson wine guy @ the great eat hall — 9 years ago