West Cape Howe own and operate vineyards throughout the expansive viticultural precincts of Australia's largest winegrowing region. It is here at Great Southern that the balmy West Australian growing season and salubrious mix of terroirs, form mesoclimes which are heaven sent for good wine, while permutating into a diversity which favour specific grapes and styles. From choice blocks on the Russell Road Vineyard at Frankland River, a golden buttery, oak fermented Chardonnay, engaging as aperitif and perfect match to fine gourmandise.

$1949each $233DOZEN EACH DOZEN The selection of site and quality of harvest, are such that the West Cape Howe team need take very little intervention to make great wine. Grapes are picked at full physiological ripeness to create a generously proportioned Chardonnay for enthusiasts who indulge in the big flavourful styles. Parcels are pressed into a selection of new and aged French oak barrels for twelve days of vinification at cooler temperatures, preserving delicate flavours while infusing textural richness. Upon completion, batches are treated to a regimen of regular lees stirring during eight months of maturation, half the barrels complete a course of full malolactic, adding complexity and contributing splendid mouthfeel.

Deep straw colour with a pale green hue. Intense combination of cashews and butter, honeycombs and stone fruit. Medium weight palate, rich creamy texture, peach and nectarine fruit flavours, perfectly complimented by secondary characters of honey and toasted nuts, culminating on a persistent, flavoursome finish.

Pure elegant Chardonnay, taught, terrific and trim, with a sense of West Australian vibrancy, an exemplar of the outstanding potential that Great Southern represents as a winegrowing region. The idyllic growing climes of Mount Barker, restrained yields, exacting standards of viticulture and an artisanal vinification are what make West Cape Howe a truly memorable experience. The most stylish parcels of Chardonnay are reserved for Styx, a clean textural wine with effusive citrus character and attractive weight of fruit before a wonderfully crisp finish.

$2599each $311DOZEN EACH DOZEN From vineyards 250 metres above the Southern Ocean, Chardonnay is harvested off the choicest estate grown blocks, picked to a schedule determined by perfect physiological ripeness. Grapes are crushed, the clean and turbid juices are racked into a selection of new and seasoned oak barrels for inoculation. Batches are monitored over the course of twelve day vinification at cooler temperatures, to preserve delicate fruit flavours. The finished wine remains in barrel for nine months on fermentation lees to develop a more textural mouthfeel. Individual barrels are all tasted and only those which can best articulate the essential Styx Chardonnay style are included into the final wine.

Mid to deep straw yellow hue with hints of olive. Nougat, white peaches and lemon zest bouquet over notes of well integrated oak. A medium weight palate showing beautiful grapefruit and citrus flavours supported by a mineral texture. Great persistence of flavour that's long and refreshing at the finish. Wonderful drinking right now alongside game fish or deep sea cod.

West Cape Howe began their journey with a respect for the land and a dedication to the welfare of the vine. No expense was spared in establishing a standard of viticulture worthy of the world's great terroirs. Today, their invaluable endowment of superior vineyards yields a quality of fruit which makes its own wine. Crafted with minimal human intervention, harvests from splendid sites along Frankland River and the Perth Hills, are assembled into an enchanting Tempranillo wine of exciting tension between savoury and sweet, stylishness and aplomb.

$1949each $233DOZEN EACH DOZEN West Cape Howe are essentially a Great Southern estate, their exhaustive expanse of properties across the widely dispersed viticultural precincts are planted to many of the Australian west's finest vineyards. The winemaking team source a collation of Tempranillo parcels from sites at Frankland River and Perth Hills, all parts are separately handled to preserve eloquence of terroir. Ferments are pumped over twice daily for a week and a half of vinification, maximising tannin and colour extraction. Upon completion, batches are filled to a selection of seasoned French oak barrels for ten months maturation before assembling into the finished wine.

Rich plum colour, violet hues. Lifted berry fruit nose, dark cherry perfumes seasoned by aromatic savoury notes. The palate is filled with sweet red berry flavours, hints of dark chocolate and olive characters, a well balanced and structural wine, supported by ripe, soft tannins and youthful acidity as it resolves on a long fruit driven finish.

Two Steps is a wine of stately black fruit flavours and elegant spice character, crafted from parcels grown to mesoclimes which are being recognized the world over for the the sterling quality of Shiraz. The warm days of Mount Barker deliver a perfect measure of sunshine for optimal ripening, the chilly, often frosty nights, extend the growing season, developing flavours and tannins to the fullest. Restraint in the vinification achieves a highly articulate Shiraz of power, structure and grace, to mate alongside the finest gourmandise.

$2999each $359DOZEN EACH DOZEN A long campaign to acquire the oldest and most distinguished vineyards across the finer viticultural precincts of Great Southern, has delivered the West Cape Howe team with an invaluable endowment from which to draw the finest fruit. The choicest parcels of estate grown Frankland River Shiraz are earmarked on the basis of aromatic intensity, concentration of flavour and ripe tannins. Parcels are separately treated to a term of cold soak maceration for optimal extraction. Ten days of ferment on skins are followed by eighteen months in a selection of seasoned and new, exclusively French oak barrels. The best barrels are determined and isolated for assemblage into the finished wine.

Deep inky red with garnet hue. Lifted aromas of ripe plum, subtle hints of spicy clove, pleasantly balanced by nuances of French oak. Rich and inviting palate, a core of dark fruits, liquorice and spice. Dusty tannins in support, spicy French oak lingering on the finish. A match to Entrecote et glace de viande, moelle et brioche.

Deep scarlet colour. Bouquet of raspberries and blackcurrant, followed by sweet and spicy vanillan with hints of cigarbox and pencil from the new French oak. A currant and bramble, plum and cocoa flavoured palate, seasoned with fragrant oak spice and supported by lengthy, savoury tannins. Long memorable finish of fragrant blackberry cassis notes and refined, fresh acidity.

$2099each $251DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Wignalls were established 1982 after investigations into the local geography by founder Dr Bill Wignall. Results showed Albany's growing conditions were virtually identical to some of the great terroirs in France. Wignalls believe that terroir is the main reason for the remarkable quality of their wines. Attention to detail and a sophisticated trellis system to maximise sunlight and air circulation, greatly assist in achieving a superior quality of fruit. Fashioned to the statuesque styles of the great Burgundian Cru aged in the finest French oak.

$4199each $503DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The wines of Wignall were met with resounding success from the first release, inaugural vintages saw amazing results, attracting conspicuous gold medal and trophy victories. Fruit driven and voluptuous to drink, Wignall have refined the style of their Albany Pinot Noir to be bliss for the most discerning palates. Vivacious aromatic fruit up front is solidly supported by velvetine tannins, dulcetly perfumed by the sweet, creamy French oak. An engaging nose of allsort and jube brings mouth filling flavours of fraise and framboise.

$4199each $503DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The Xabregas Mount Barker vineyards enjoy a microclime that's somewhat similar to some of Europe's great winegrowing districts. Riesling is afforded a great deal of respect as a grape and generally the winemaking influence is minimal, to preserve the aromatics. Artisan Riesling is the antithesis. The aim is to interact with the precision of Riesling's acidity and flavour to add complexity and most importantly texture, without overpowering the delicate fruit.

$3099each $371DOZEN EACH DOZEN The jewel in the Xabregas crown are three beautiful sites, just ten kilometres south of Mount Barker along the renowned Figtree Lane, Spencer and Narrikup Roads. The three properties behave as idiosyncratically as the four seasons, adding to the dynamic of Mount Barker. Riesling grapes are treated to a substantial pressing to extract optimal flavour. The aim is to construct a wine with brilliant crystalline structure, brisk lime/citrus character and maximum intensity of fruit. Juices are cold settled and barrel fermented through the action of native yeasts and stirred on full sulphured lees for five months. Upon completion the batches are matured eight months during a course of battonage in tank on fine yeast lees. Alcohol 11.9%

Bright pale straw hue. Artisan is cut from a different cloth, a mixture of classic citrus, talcum powder and red apple characters with nuances of smoky oak and camembert cheese. A bone dry, savoury palate of citrus marmalade, lime rind and lemon acid, with a creamy mid palate of piquant aged cheddar, followed by a mouth watering brace of acid to finish.

An assemblage of Shiraz and Rousanne from the finest vineyards south of Mt. Barker, harvested throughout the cooler temperatures of early morning at closely timed passes amongst the vines to create a Syrah of structure and complexity. Each site contributes a uniqueness and influence adding a different personality to the final wine. An elegant, medium weighted Syrah with abundant spice and graceful tannins, co fermentation with portions of the Roussanne grape adds another layer of texture and depth to this emerging Mt Barker style.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN The vineyard enjoys near perfect conditions, warmth in the morning, afternoon cloud cover to reduce solar radiation and cooler nights. Mature Shiraz vines are trained to vertical shoot position trellising. Grapes are de-stemmed and crushed, the fruit is chilled on its way to fermenters. Whole bunch inclusions and wild yeast inoculation contribute exciting complexity. Musts are transferred to closed static fermenters for three weeks vinification on skins, while being treated to several pumpovers for aeration each day. Upon completion, parcels are passed through a membrane press to a selection of new and seasoned French oak barrels for a minimum eighteen months maturation. Alcohol 16.0%

Deep, crimson red. Rich with spice and black fruits, an abundance of aromatics, white pepper, nutmeg and cherries with undertones of vanilla bean, dried lavender and coffee. The intriguing spice and floral nuances continue on the palate which is lively and medium in weight, followed by a persistent length and tightly knit set of youthful tannins. Impressively complex with outstanding texture, depth and structure, Artisan is eminently drinkable upon release and will evolve magnificently.