Fine Wines of Perth

Freshy Bay Shiraz 2004

Freshy Bay
7 The Coombe
Mosman Park WA 6012
(08) 9384 9916

Freshy Bay's 2004 vintage is traditional in style, so very rich with concentrated blackberry flavours. It has a plump mid palate opulence with a seamless, complete finish.

Voted "The Best Red in WA", upon receiving a gold medal at the Blackwood Valley, Boutique Wine Show in 2006, it also received a bronze medal at the National Boutique Wine Show in Sydney.

Ferngrove "Symbols" Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008

Ferngrove Vineyards
276 Ferngrove Road
Frankland River WA 6396
(08) 9855 2378

Right down in the South-West where the grass is green and the wine is plentiful, Ferngrove is making its mark on the wine world - you may have already had its great Leaping Lizard wine.

Ferngrove's Symbols SBS is just the thing to drink while enjoying a delicious woodfired pizza. This fresh and vital white has aromas of passionfruit and lime wiht hints of kiwi fruit. The palate is fresh and flavoursome tropical fruits with hints of gooseberry, passionfruit and citrus followed by a clean, textural finish.

Pierro Chardonnay 2006

Pierro Margaret River Vineyards
PO Box 522
Busselton WA
(08) 9755 6220

Pierro are well-known for their amazing Chardonnay, which has had critics all aflutter for the past few years. Their 2006 Chardonnay has toasty butterscotch and peach aromas - mmm - with a rich complex palate with firm oak and fresh acidity. Ideal with chicken and fish and I suspect it would go down a treat with gourmet vegetarian dishes as well.

I can't get over the goodness of the wine that's been coming out of the Margaret River Wine Region lately - it's sure giving the rest of the world a run for its money.

Fire Gully Chardonnay 2007

Firegully Farm and Vineyard
Metricup Rd, Willyabrup WA
(08) 9755 6220

This is another of the amazing Margaret River Chardonnays. Housed in a frankly beautiful bottle, the Fire Gully is a sexy accompaniment to a meal or even better as a wine to choose when chilling out sociably with friends (although I'll actually be pouring myself a glass tonight when I snuggle down on the couch by myself to watch a movie).

This gorgeous wine hails from Willyabrup, just north of Margaret River near the coast. And speaking of Willyabrup, I went down there a few weeks ago and if you go down Biljedup Beach Road, drive to the parking area, jump over the fence and follow the walking track towards the beach, you'll come across some of the most amazingly rugged and beautiful coastline you'll ever see.

Monbulk Winery

155 Macclesfield Road
Monbulk VIC 3793

So it seems that I had a good break this year and I am spending most of my time in wineries. I took the family to the Australian Open this year and just had to taste some of the wines. Monbulk took my fancy. Very cosy and honest. Not too big and game on new ideas. For example... We had Kiwi Fruit Wine (needs to be served as cold as possible. Dry yet refreshing) and a Pinot Noir that had all the taste of a full bodied red with the texture of a light. Monbulk is in the Dandenongs and well worth the trip. We drove and drove some more to soak up the beauty of the rainforest.

Lancaster 9 Rows Cabernet 2007

5228 West Swan Road
West Swan WA 6461
(08) 9250 6461

It is always great fun to just wander through the Swan Valley. Over the Christmas break I went out for a bit of fun with a friend and he asked me to take him somewhere a bit different, so I thought we'd go for Lancaster across from The Margaret River Chocolate Factory. It is all out doors and the greenery is fantastic. He thought this drop was the best we tried for the day, so why don't you check it out.

Pierro Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2004

PO Box 522
Busselton 6280
(08) 9755 6220

An ideal wine to go with roast meats and full flavoured cheeses, Pierro's Cabernet Sauvignon is rich, and has a strong fragrance. It will start to be at its best in May 2008.

Preston Vale

PO Box 555
Donnybrook 6239
(08) 9732 1008

Straight from the South of WA, Preston Vale wines come from one single vineyard. The 2006 Unwooded Chardonnay has a lime hue overlaying its golden colour. It contains flavours of ripe stone fruit, rockmelon and citrus. The 2004 Cabernet Merlot is a full flavoured wine with a strong ruby red colouring and dark harnet hue. It suggests flavours of blackcurrants and red berries.

Adinfern Ruby Port 2004

Bussell Highway
Cowaramup  WA 6284
(08) 9755 5272
wine@adinfern.com

Beautifully bottled, Adinfern's Ruby Port has slight Turkish Delight aromas and rich cherries on the palate.

BoJangles Blanc de Noir 2005

PO BOX 71
Manjimup WA 6258
(08) 9772 4288

Great for a special celebration, the BoJangles label of Woodgate is made from hand-harvested, low yielding whole bunches of Pinot Noir Grapes. This ensures a rich, full bodied sparkling wine.

Eden Gate Blueberry Port 2006

685 Eden Road, Youngs Siding
Albany WA 6330

Straight from Albany, Eden Gate's Blueberry Port is a deliciously refreshing change to grape wines. It is rich, full bodied and wonderful for all seasons, but especially chilled on a hot summer evening. Yes please!

Four Emus 2004 Shiraz

consumer@fouremus.com.au

Straight from the heart of Australia, the winemakers of Four Emus are as crazy about their wine as they are about their beloved Emus. The fruit driven flavours are fresh and clean, and with every bottle purposefully a screwtop, there's no chance of cork taint or oxidation when you rock up at a party! Available at Madisons in Claremont.

Lilac Hill Estate

55 Benara Rd
Caversham WA 6055

Once again, the Swan Valley produces award winning wines. The Lilac Hill Estate Winery is situated on one of the oldest and most established vineyards in the Swan Valley region. With a range of wines certain to please everyone, Lilac Hill Wines show a fresh fruit taste, and clean floral aromas.

Vindara Estate

Lot 11 Jenkins Road
Chittering WA 6084
(08) 9296 6337

A combination of award winning wines - Merlot, Cabernet and Shiraz fruits have created the perfect blend for this tasteful easy drinking red. Vindars Estate is a part of the Jarrah Ridge family of wines.

Amberley

Corner Thornton and Wildwood Roads
Yallingup WA 6282
(08) 9750 1113

A couple of Amberley's best Shiraz. Designed to be enjoyed with a variety of today's foods. A delightfully drinkable Shiraz suited for short to medium term cellaring.

Fermoy Estate

PO Box 123
Cowaramup, 6284
(08) 9755 6285

Court Wine Bar Wholesalers
84 Beaufort Street
Perth WA 6000

Despite a history of little more than a decade, Fermoy Estate's wines have won acclaim which belies the vineyard's youth. Its Cabernet Sauvignon scooped a Gold Sheraton wine award within its first year of production and its Merlot and Semillon have also been hailed at both wine shows and in the marketplace.

Naked Grape

Smithbrook Rd
Pemberton WA 6260

Naked Grapes 2004 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon is produced by Smithbrook Wines and has a special place in my heart. Tiffany and I took it to Annapurna Cafe for dinner. Up till this stage Tiffany was not a wine drinker. This was her first review for westcoastcafes.com.au and the beginning of her wine education.

Carilley Estate

Lot 23 Hyem Road
Herne Hill, WA 6056

Selected white and red grape varieties are grown at Caralley Estate and carefully hand-picked allowing to resultant wine to be at its most flavoursome.

Pinelli Wines

30 Bennett St
Caversham WA 6005
pinellewines@bigpond.com

Many years ago when I lived in Morley, I remember going to Penelli Winery with my brother and friends. It was only about five minutes away. We would always leave half drunk with a couple dozen bottles for friends and family. When I drove past the other day on my Swan Valley investigations, I thought it was appropriate that I did this review. Let me first say these guys make wine tasting really fun. Most wineries have a distinctive style and taste. I believe that Pinelli has a European taste. I am a Port drinker so I started with this one and I can tell you this is very smooth indeed.