Woodlands Margaret 2018

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for at least one hour. Founded by David and Heather Watson in 1973 in Wilyabrup, Woodlands is an award-winning Australian winery and one of the first to be established in Margaret River. Today, the 10-hectare, certified organic estate is run by Andrew and Stuart, the founders' sons. Margaret, considered the company's flagship wine, is a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with additions of Merlot and Malbec, sourced from the Woodlands Estate vineyard, planted on gravelly, sandy soils on calcareous clay. After harvesting and manual selection of the bunches, the grapes are fermented separately in steel and then left to macerate on the skins. After a rest of about a year and a half, the wines are tasted to prepare and bottle the final blend. The wine reveals a deep crimson red color and an intense and complex aromatic profile with notes of berries, especially cassis and blackberry, violets and aromatic herbs, and some hints of vanilla. On the palate, it is rich, soft and concentrated. It has a full body and a strong mineral vein. The finish is fresh and persistent. It pairs well with red meat in spicy preparations, such as a beef goulash.

Price: £31.10 from 8wines UK