LEEUWIN ESTATE Prelude Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

Shiraz and Tempranillo are wonderful partners; two old varieties coming together to make a new vibrant blend. The Shiraz brings all the Australian fruit power, deep plum flavours with a peppery edge in a fleshy fruit sweet palate. The Tempranillo adds savoury elements and complex tannin structure to the wine resulting in a more complete wine than either of the two components could make on their own. This wine has all the sweet fleshiness that we expect in Shiraz with the added benefit of textural complexity. Both Shiraz and Tempranillo were de-stemmed and fermented separately in open vessels with extensive pump over cap management to aid colour and flavour extraction as well as optimize the tannin development. The wines were pressed off skins and matured in French oak barriques, approximately one third new oak with the balance one and two year old. After 15 months in barrel the wines were blended according to taste. The Hay Shed Hill vineyard is situated on a picturesque property that was established as a group settlement farm for returned soldiers from the First World War. Known as Sussex Vale the property was originally a dairy farm. The current homestead, considerably renovated, still has much of the original Group Settlement look and feel. Vines were first planted in the early 1970s. In the late 1980s the vineyard was bought by the Morrison Family and the wine brand Hay Shed Hill was established taking its name from the local reference to the hay shed located on the property. The sister label, Pitchfork, was developed to complement the single vineyard Hay Shed Hill label. A series of ownership changes saw numerous alterations to labels, wine style and distribution until the current group of partners bought back the farm and the brand in late 2006 and returned to the original concept of producing wine with integrity that expresses the quality of the site.

Discover this earthy Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of dark red fruits, plums and spicy notes, which are complemented by fine tannins leaving a smooth finish.

Although medium-bodied, Byron & Harold have produced a wine with loads of flavour and varietal character in their distinctive style.Deep red in the glass. Heady lift of violets, plum and spice. Medium to full-bodied with plenty of black fruit, touches of wood smoke and earth, fresh acidity and black pepper on the savoury finish.

The best Margaret River reds are true cellaring propositions, and this absolutely delicious Reserve-grade Shiraz from Evans & Tate is no exception.Deep, dark red. Savoury dark berry fruit with woody herbs and cedar oak. Minty blackcurrant and raspberry core depth in a mid-weight, intense and spicy frame, remaining youthful and primary with bright acidity and chalky tannins. Still a baby.

Machine harvested at night , crushed and de-stemmed, pressed to French oak (25% new and the balance in staves) for 12 months. This is classic cooler climate Shiraz with beautiful perfumes on the nose and lovely fleshy fruit flavours on the palate, the tannins are soft and generous combining to give the wine a well structured finish.

This vintage was co-fermented with 7.5% viognier to give the shiraz a more intensely perfumed bouquet and silkier texture. The palate has a wonderfully dry texture which gives a savoury character to the shiraz: dark plum, briary, brambly flavous and a fleshy, almost silky texture and a long, dry finish of considerable length.