Ray Jordan's WA Wine Review 2024
We are thrilled that a number of our wines have received some fantastic reviews in the Ray Jordan Wine Review 2024.
Ray Jordan is one of the most respected wine critics in Western Australia and his knowledge regarding Western Australian wine is second to none.
The Deep Woods Estate 2022 Reserve Shiraz was crowned Ray Jordan's top WA Shiraz and the Deep Woods Estate 2022 Reserve Chardonnay was also listed in Jordan's top 27 white wines and awarded 98 points.
Read all FWG reviews in the latest Wine Review below.
Reviews
Deep Woods Estate 2022 Reserve Shiraz
98 points
"This comes from a single block in Wilyabrup planted back in '72, so it's one of the oldest in the region. Excellent season has produced fruit of fine balance and poise. It's been captured in this super wine. The nose is fragrant with a spicy, licorice and plummy, blackberry thing happening. The palate has a grainy texture which is simply compelling. The flavour profile extends effortlessly to a very long finish. I love this wine. One of the best."
Deep Woods Estate 2022 Reserve Chardonnay
98 points
"What a marvelous Chardonnay from these guys. At the outset, it's whole bunch pressed and fermented in a combo of new and seasoned French oak before a regime of lees stirring. Has a fine mineral thread with an engaging combination of light char, cracked seashell and sea spray on the nose. The palate is precise but relentlessly long and intense. Beautiful finish. As good as has been produced from Deep Woods."
Evans & Tate 2020 Redbrook Reserve Chardonnay
97 Points
"A wine that bridges that divide between power and elegance, delivering a wonderfully precise and finely focused wine. On the nose a trace of wild ferment struck match releases. The palate then takes charge with a fine chalky edge against a backdrop of grapefruit and cashew with a lift of pear. Has a crunchy saline character to finish. As good as any from E&T."
Evans & Tate 2018 Redbrook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
97 Points
"Okay, here's the thing. I loved this wine when I first tasted it last year and gave it very high points. But the extra year has revealed even more and has prompted me to add another notch to the score. Most noticeably a glorious, perfumed fragrance has emerged. It's from the wonderful 2018 vintage, which continues to amaze with its red wines in particular. Leafy black fruits on the nose with a trace of brick dust and bay leaf, black olive. The palate is smooth and seamlessly structured with fine minerally tannins. A super wine with years ahead of it."
Deep Woods Estate 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
96 Points
"A more lightly framed wine than previous vintages but one that is so refined and elegantly poised. Blackcurrant and bay leaf with a little oyster shell minerality on the nose. The palate reveals other nuances of black fruits, with a chalky limestone and a slightly wet cement character. It's still very tight and will need some time to break free. A wine for the cellar for sure, and make sure you splash it around a bit in the decanter if drinking it now."
Evans & Tate 2019 Redbrook Estate Shiraz
96 Points
"A mighty good partner to the Cabernet from the same vintage. This is thick and densely concentrated with lashings of dark plum, fruit cake and rich dark chocolate. Yet there is restraint and refinement that comes with this cooler Margaret River vintage. Add to that some mulberry and savoury oak influences and you have an outstanding example of Shiraz from the heart of Margaret River."
Deep Woods Estate 2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay
95 Points
"An outstanding Margaret River Chardonnay. On the nose it strikes immediately with floral notes mingling with a flinty lemony brioche combination. Stone fruit characters of nectarine and white peach release on the palate with a subtle minerally oyster shell sea spray edge. Lightly charry oak on the finish contributes to a very good Chardonnay."
Evans & Tate 2020 Redbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot
95 Points
"Hard to beat this classic Margaret River combination in a very good year. It's more towards medium bodied and so stylish and poised as it drives effortlessly to a long finish. Aromas of graphite and bay leaf reveal immediately with very subtle olive tapenade in the background. The fleshy Merlot fills the palate neatly while the cabernet adds those firm angular tannins for structure and poise. Has a slightly chewy finish."
Millbrook 2022 Estate Viognier
95 Points
This really is an exceptional example of this most distinctive variety. Lifted florals on the nose with traces of apricot and ginger making quite a statement that this is Viognier. Love the hints of orange blossom and fresh cream on the palate. It's a wine of control and poise.
Millbrook 2023 Regional GSM
95 Points
Come on guys, you have to love this wonderful blend of these three Rhone varieties sourced from Geographe. It's soft and supple but still with a chalky core of tannin and oak providing its poise and direction. It's really about the fruit with only a small amount of oak influence. Super wine for current drinking while all that vibrant youthful fruit is doing its thing.
Deep Woods Estate 2023 Rosé
94 Points
"Now firmly established a one of Australia's foremost Rosés. Pale onion skin colour is classically modern Rosé. The aromas are all strawberry and cherry. The palate offers texture on its light frame creating such an enticing current drinking wine. A wine that really sings with energy and vibrance."
Millbrook 2021 Estate Shiraz Viognier
94 Points
The distinctive spicy influence of Viognier is clearly evident on the Shiraz. It's from the Millbrook property from vines that are now pretty old, so you get plenty of ripe and intense fruit flavours with the spicy aromatics of the Viognier adding lift to the violet plummy notes of the Shiraz. Chalky tannins and lightly infused oak add their final pieces to complete the picture.
Smithbrook 2020 The Yilgarn Blanc de Blancs
93 Points
"This is one of the best releases of this sparkling wine. It's made from 100% Chardonnay from down at Pemberton and prior to disgorging spent 24 months on lees in bottle. Has a light creamy mousse with a lifted fresh baked bread and lemony melon character. A light citrus tang lifts the palate through to a clean long finish."
Deep Woods Estate 2023 Estate Sauvignon Blanc
93 Points
"Just a little barrel fermentation has transformed this from the normal fruit-bomb style into a wine of sophistication and style, while still allowing the punchy savvy fruit to display its virtues. Typical characters of passionfruit, gooseberry and a little snow pea are lifted with a little of the lemony oak influence. A really attractive wine to drink while it is still fresh, but which can handle a little cellaring time."
Millbrook 2022 Single Vineyard Chardonnay
93 Points
Impressive Chardonnay sourced from the Geographe region. Beautiful opening with lemon scents and edgy grapefruit evident on the nose. The palate has achieved a high level of complexity with a flinty charry edge to the lime dominated citrus nuance. A tight minerally savoury finish completes a tidy wine.
Deep Woods Estate 2021 Single Vineyard Cabernet Merlot
92 Points
"The impact of the Malbec on the nose is immediate with its rhubarb-like juby red notes. This is an elegantly crafted wine of medium body displaying attractive red fruit flavours. Freshy fruit within complemented by a chalky sinewy tannin edge. Oak has been well-managed to achieve an ideal balance."
Smithbrook 2021 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
92 Points
"Light bodied and thoroughly delicious Pinot Noir. Opens with an earthy, sweet strawberry and dark cherry combo on the nose. Impressive palate with glazed cherry and subtle earthy minerally characters merging. The tannins are fine and slightly chalky with the oak well integrated. The firm spine gives purpose to drive through to the finish."
Smithbrook 2020 Single Vineyard Merlot
92 Points
"A plush medium bodied Merlot. Red berry and fruit cake aromas with a little prune juice addition. The palate is soft, supported with fine chalky tannins and understated vanillin oak. Rounded and fruit driven. Ideal for current drinking. The extra year has introduced a layer of cedary and slightly spicy complexity."
Millbrook 2021 Regional Tempranillo
91 Points
If you're looking for a delicious and scrumptious red wine, then this Tempranillo hits the mark fair and square. Lifted floral notes of cherry and plummy raspberry. The palate is soft and warm with an almost cuddly feel. Sweet spicy plum fill the palate delivering to a pleasing long finish.
Millbrook 2022 Regional Chenin Blanc
91 Points
It makes a lot of sense that if you're going to make a Chenin Blanc you go to the Swan Valley. This warmer year produced Chenin of tremendous flavour and balance. This has it all, with a lemony citrus and red apple character, especially on the nose. A keen twist of lemon and lime adds to the clean finish.
Evans & Tate 2021 Wild Cape Cabernet Sauvignon
91 Points
"A fully ripe and juicy Cabernet displaying all the blackcurrant varietal character of this variety. There's a little bay leaf and chocolaty back olive combination. The palate has good flesh which is supported by a firm core of chalky tannin and oak. A minerally graphite nuance completes the wine."
Evans & Tate 2022 Wild Cape Chardonnay
90 Points
"This is a mighty impressive Chardonnay for this price. It a wild fermented and then spent 11 months in oak on lees before more time in stainless steel before bottling. Plenty of melon and light cashew with an understated stone fruit influence. Finishes with a twist of lemon. Great wine for drinking in the short term."
You can view the latest Wine Review online here.
