Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Franc. Woodlands have observed that some parcels of their vineyard produce aromatic ferments, while others are more structured. The finest pickings are treated to small open fermenters enhancing aromatics. Parcels showing greater structure are vinified in small closed fermenters. The best of both worlds, a Cabernet that retains vibrant aromatic fruit whilst gaining structure and adding weight. After a year in exclusively new French oak, the best barrels of vintage are determined and set aside for the final assemblage.

$17599each $2111DOZEN EACH DOZEN Fruit is sourced from the original estate plantings of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, on a south facing, sandy loam over gravel clay slope. These small plots receive the greatest number of sunlight hours at Woodlands, the east west orientation of vines ensures a slow ripening, the last parcels to be harvested each year. Fruit is picked late March to early April, destemmed and passed over a vibrating sorting table, crushed and vinified in small closed fermenters, followed by a term of maceration on skins before being pressed for malolactic. Upon completion, batches are transferred to new French medium toast barrels for nineteen months maturation.

Deep crimson colour. The nose reveals cassis and mulberry, blackcurrant, violet and toasty French oak. The palate shows deep brooding characters of blackberry, mulberry and briar. A very focused wine, with an array of rich fruit flavours and long grained tannins.

Very few vineyards yield the quality of fruit that merits vintaging into a statuesque wine dominated by the prettily fragrant Cabernet Franc. Woodlands were established from the ground up with a view to achieving limited harvests of the arcane Bordeaux varietals, only a few hundred cases of good red wine per vintage. There are now two estate vineyards, located within two kilometres of each other in Wilyabrup Valley, dry grown and farmed through traditionally organic techniques. The sanctity of soil yields a vividly varietal Cabernet Franc of finite peerage.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN An assemblage of fruit harvested off Woodlands Brook Vineyard in the Wilyabrup Valley of Margaret River. Grapes are picked in small batches, row by row as each parcel achieves complete and optimal ripeness. A special hopper lifts fruit into the air before gently shaking the bunches into the destemmer, which in turn removes stems by swinging a cage from side to side. This process is much more gentle on the fruit, ensuring that shot berries, dry and unripe grapes remain on the stems and out of the wine. Upon completion of ferments, batches are filled to a high proportion of new French oak barrels for fourteen months maturation.

The archetypal west coast Bordeaux style, a vibrant cepage of Cabernet and Merlot, Malbec and Franc, picked off the first vineyards ever planted to Margaret River. A component from the younger Woodlands Brook site contributes structure and aromatics. Woodlands remains an enigma, as the vineyard team place great trust in the quality of fruit, the finished wine can be both pretty and powerful. Vinified exclusively of Wilyabrup parcels, painstakingly hand sorted, berry by berry, the graceful tannins continue to soften, as the fruit begins to sing.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN Woodlands Brook is currently planted to six hectares of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot on a north facing slope of loam soils. Grapes are hand picked, batches are gently crushed and separately fermented to retain integrity of varietals, most parcels are treated to a closed fermentation, a process called upon to retain the intensity and power of fruit. Other smaller batches are treated to open ferments, a technique which enhances aromaticness. Some batches can be treated to full or partial malolactic to add complexity and enhance the integration with oak. Woodlands is transferred to a selection of French oak barriques to be aged fourteen months before assemblage.

Intense crimson in colour. The nose shows brooding characters of mulberries, blackberries and dark cherry combined with toasty French oak notes. Best described as classic and refined, the palate is very rich and dense, with considerable weight and power. Woodland finishes with ripe fine grained tannins.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The essential Margaret River Cabernet in epic Medoc styling, solid and statuesque, reflecting the intensity of fruit flavours that flourish within the rich, free draining gravel soils of the vineyard. Xanadu now has a long history of producing wines of distinction, regional classics and some of the most memorable vintages in Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. By the early 1980s it had already established a reputation as one of the finest wineries on Margaret River. A generous, robust Cabernet with firm, ripe tannin backbone and warm lingering finish.

$3799each $455DOZEN EACH DOZEN Xanadu's auspicious mesoclime enjoys an abundant supply of water that nourishes the grapes, the fortunate vines are sheltered by forests of magnificent marri trees. Grapes are crushed and destemmed before a predominantly small batch vinification in static fermenters for seven to eight days at 24C to 26C. The cap is managed to a combination of aerative pumpovers and regular plunging by hand. Upon completion, a third of components are treated to a period of extended maceration on skins before a gentle pressing and course of malolactic. Xanadu is matured fourteen months in a high proportion of new French oak, followed by assemblage and return to oak for two months before bottling.

Deep red with garnet hues. Ripe fruits of the forest, boysenberries and cassis integrated with dark chocolate, cinnamon and spice. Full bodied yet refined, the plush palate offers ripe, jubey fruits such as blackcurrants, plums and mulberries framed by subtle cedar/ spicy oak characters. A Cabernet that's dense and well structured, layered with dark fleshy fruit characteristics, ripe tannins and a lingering finish.

Situated within the auspicious dress circle of fortuitous mesoclimes, encompassing some of Margaret River's most stately wineries, Xanadu is a pioneer with a long history of producing the most elegant and intensely flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon. Exmoor is an approachable entry to the prestigious flagship range of distinguished Xanadu vineyard wines, representing the essential experience in Margaret River Cabernet, endowed with solid structure, firm tannins, fragrant dark berry fruit characters and refined, stylish oak.

$1999each $239DOZEN EACH DOZEN The growing conditions around Xanadu's vineyards, in the form of beautifully still Indian summers, cool nights and clear warm days, are second to none for the production of world class Cabernet Sauvignon. The ideal weather patterns at vintage afford vignerons the luxury to harvest each block as grapes achieve full physiological ripeness. Bunches are crushed and destemmed, inoculated to a variety of select yeasts and vinified in a combination of static and sweeper arm fermenters at 26C over the course of a week. Components complete malolactic before being treated to fourteen months maturation in a selection of new and seasoned, predominantly French oak barriques.

Deep red with ruby hues. Vibrant aromas of ripe blackcurrants, berry fruits and dark plum entwined with hints of spicy, toasty oak. The generous palate is packed full of juicy fruits of the forest, cassis and chocolate characters. Full bodied, the attractive fleshy fruits fit into a structure supported by supple tannins, a solid acid backbone and a persistent berry fruit finish. The classic Margaret River Cabernet style, drinking very well in its youth.

$10399each $1247DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$7999each $959DOZEN EACH DOZEN