Bob McDonald

9.2

I last tasted this vintage 10 years ago in May 2015. Trademark herbaceous notes. A tawny edge when swirled. The palate shows more richness than normal for Margaret River with cassis and blackberry. From the very good 2009 vintage for Margs and the dress circle Wilyabrup area. — 5 months ago

Erin Vickers

9.5

Damian’s favourite, but not all batches feel as strong as the other. Same year though. — 6 months ago

with Damian

Louis Martin

9.1

Blackberry and spice on the nose, fine sand textured tannins, lively acidity and cherry plum flavor. — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

This is the 2nd rated Vasse Felix Chardonnay behind the world class Heytesbury and ahead of the amazing value Filius. This was my last 2017 having made no notes for the first two. Expresses everything which is great about Margaret River Chardonnay. Complexity without cost. Ripe grapefruit with a balanced creamy French oak note which is largely integrated at 7 years of age. More citrus than stone fruit - a little nectarine? Great QPR at $31 AUD. — a year ago

Russell Ives

9.1

2021 noice! Eminently drinkable. Oak light, melon notes. Hints (only) of old style buttery wooded Aus chardy’s — 3 years ago

Angela Brown

9.5

Stunning Chardonnay with beautiful balance of nuttiness and acidity — 4 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.5

2005 vintage, rescued from the cellar today. What a testament to the quality of Margaret River Cabernet. Divine, the fruit shines through the palate and the briny tannin structure is magnificent. Enjoyed every sip! — 7 years ago

Amanda B.

9.4

Joey lansdowne — 5 months ago

Jonathan Wall

9.0

Very nice Aussie Chard. Medium to high acidity. Citrus, floral, slight vanilla. Low on the butter oak scale. — 6 months ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Nicely aromatic & restrained (for Australia) with purity of dark fruit (blackberries, plums, mulberry), nice depth and excellent tannins quality - juicy, polished, finely grained.
Very elegant & with beautiful balance between the ripeness & savoury notes.
A really lovely wine! — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

My 11th bottle of an original dozen bought on release. Still going strong after 26 years. Colour of mid crimson with a tawny rim. When decanted the wine threw a lot of sediment. Herbaceous with red fruits - hint of red currants. Palate is mid weight - sweet and savoury at once, finishing with smooth resolved tannins. I will leave the last one for another 1 or 2 years / say early 2027. — 10 months ago

Galen Hasler

9.0

Classic CS but undistinguished — 3 years ago

Aravind A

9.2

Unscrew and pour yesterday. Noted from 24 hrs open. Fantastic PQR. Lovely meyer lemon and soft mango notes, some oak-influenced vanilla, but very stylish. On the palate: lovely acidity, soft slate, good density and a juicy finish. At the garagiste price of about 27 bucks, this is leaning in the case buy direction. Yum. — 4 years ago

Simon Gilligan

9.4

Savoury is the name of the game. Medium to full bodied, long finish, gravelly drying tannin, blackcurrent, mint, eucalypt. Great nose, 2 hr decant and felt it was finally opening up. Very left bank Bordeaux like, 85% cabernet sauvignon. 10% petit verdot. 2% merlot. 1% cabernet franc. — 7 years ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Blackberry and faint mulberry aromas and flavors, youthful but showing a little complexity already, longish finish, this is very good. This wine just smells/tastes like Margaret River Cabernet (@Bob McDonald, do you understand what I’m saying here?). — 5 months ago

with Jim

Bob McDonald

9.3

Aromatics of black fruits with a touch of menthol (eucalyptus in these parts). Not as herbaceous as the northern part of Margaret River up In Wilyabrup. Oak is noticeable on the palate initially (even at 16 years). One of the few Cab Merlot blends as their top Cuvée (Cullen is another) in preference to straight Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate ripe black fruits and mulberry. Finishes with fine tannins. HH has a long drinking window on this, up to 2039 which I don’t think many will have the willpower to follow- including me. — 6 months ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Pretty blue fruits and black fruits, lovely balance, kiss of oak, medium-weight, medium-long finish, very nice Margaret River Cabernet! — 9 months ago

with Jim

Byron Hewett

9.2

Excellent Chardonnay! No Malo. — a year ago

Will Stanley

9.0

Impossible not to like this Margaret River Cabernet from Robert Oatley, a bright, fresh and compact example of the variety with good concentration to the fruit and a satisfying herbal, mineral and tannic edge. This got better with air, showing best on the second night having popped and poured on the first. A wine for early drinking, but an impressive one at that. — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.1

Brilliant silver-straw. Lime zest, honeysuckle, succulent herbs and chalky minerals on the incisive nose. Dry, tightly focused and lithe on the palate, offering intense citrus and orchard fruit flavors that reveal a hint of waxiness and a refreshingly bitter quinine note. Shows a delicate touch and finishes clean, nervy and quite long, with resonating mineral character and a hint of lemon thyme. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2021)
— 4 years ago