Which Australian state would you choose to service all your wine drinking needs? 

This was the question that was recently posed to subscribers by Gary Walsh at The Wine Front. 

Whilst Australian drinkers have easy access to wine from all over Australia, the question does provide some food for thought. The subjective nature of wine ensures that such a hypothetical is sure to elicit a range of responses, however it is easy to make a case for Western Australia. The quality, innovation and sheer diversity of the WA wine industry, has drawn wide-spread admiration from across the globe.

This edition of Corker features a few standouts from Western Australia including a few Great Southern Rieslings from Howard Park and Castle Rock and a great value Chardonnay from Xanadu. In the reds we have a limited release from Thompson Estate, a stunning new Cabernet Sauvignon from Vasse Felix, along with a couple of super impressive Shiraz from Bellarmine and Stella Bella. 

Finally we have included a few clearance specials on some premium Western Australian whites. 

The team at Auscellardoor,

Ph: 1800 088 022.

www.auscellardoor.com.au

2008 Castle Rock Riesling - $19.90

Castle Rock is situated in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The winery has a reputation for exceptional Riesling that are not only elegant but also have the ability to age beautifully. The newly released 2008 vintage is one of their best, displaying power, balance and wonderful length of flavour.

"96 Points. Family member and winemaker Rob Diletti has gained skill and experience as the estate vineyard has aged; it’s a potent combination. Still gloriously youthful, citrus and mineral interwoven, edging slowly but surely to the day five years out when it will start to display everything it has to offer; it will be magnificent. From Porongurup; Drink to 2023 with tuna sashimi. $21, Screwcap, 12.5% alc" - James Halliday, Top 100 Wines, The Weekend Australian, November 14-15, 2009. 

"A long, lean and nervy young riesling with a penetrative, musky bouquet of white flowers, apple, lime and minerals. Supported by a dusty chassis, its tightly sculpted palate of intense lime juice and lemon flavour finishes with a fresh bite of citrusy acidity. (18.0/93, YTD 2016-2020)" - Jeremy Oliver, jeremyoliver.com.au. 

2009 Howard Park Great Southern Riesling - $21.90

New Release. Howard Park has long been regarded as one of Western Australia's greatest Riesling producers. This is a stunning new release from Howard Park, made from grapes grown in Western Australia’s Great Southern sub-regions of Mount Barker and the Porongurups. Available for $21.90, this is an absolute bargain and a must buy for any Riesling lover.

"96 Points. Exceedingly pale colour; citrus blossom aromas announce an initially mouth-puckering (in the best possible way) palate, opening quickly to reveal a zesty lime and mineral range of flavours; the acid profile promises a very long life. Screwcap. 12.5% alc. Drink: 2029 $25 Date Tasted Nov 09" - James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au.

“This rates among the very best rieslings I've tasted all year. It has freshness, crispness, pristine fruit and the potential to age. Released a few months later than many of its contemporaries, this wine from the Great Southern of Western Australia straddles the territory between delicacy and intensity with brilliant fresh lime juice flavours and zingy acid on the palate...worth snapping up to enjoy with summer seafood dishes." - Winsor Dobbin, www.winsordobbin.com.au, December 2009.

2008 Xanadu Next of Kin Chardonnay - $16.90

There is no shortage of quality Chardonnay from the Margaret River region, however this new release from Xanadau is surely one of the best value examples. A winner of Best Commercial White Wine at the 2009 Sydney Royal Wine Show, this wine is available at the great price of $16.90 for a limited time.

"94 Points. Is this the bargain Chardonnay of the year? It’s purity of apple, spice and grapefruit, leesy complexity, backbone of minerality, subtly supporting oak and sensational persistence certainly suggest that. By a case yourself and make your own decision" - Tyson Stelzer, Wine 100, May 2009.

"Won the trophy for the best commercial white at Sydney. This is tight and powerful with good palate persistence. About 75 per cent oak and the rest in tank to maintain some fruit characters. In the end, only 10 per cent got new oak. Has great richness with a slight melon and citrus grapefruit character. This is an excellent wine and great current drinking." - Ray Jordan, The West Australian, 23rd July 2009.

2007 Pitchfork Cabernet Merlot - $16.90

The Pitchfork wines are made at Hay Shed Hill by the highly regarded Michael Kerrigan. These wines consistently deliver some of the best value drinking to be found in Margaret River. This is a standout of the current Pitchfork offering, providing a fresh, flavoursome blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. At the great price of $16.90 this wine has few peers in the value stakes.    

"Flush with predominantly redcurrant/red cherry fruits which show this blend doesn't have to be painfully earthy or savoury; supple mouthfeel adds to the appeal. Great value. Screwcap. 13.3% alc. Rating 92 Drink 2016, Date Tasted Dec 08" - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 Edition.

"This traditional blend of the two classic grape varieties is designed to produce a wine with a complete palate profile. Cabernet Sauvignon is the structurally strongest variety with good flavour in the early and late part of the taste spectrum backed up by fine tannin. Merlot has less flavour persistence than Cabernet Sauvignon but has wonderful mid palate fleshiness giving a sweet fruit centre to the wine. The grapes were sourced from Margaret River; the premier grape producing region of Western Australia." - Michael Kerrigan, Hay Shed Hill Wines.

2008 Bellarmine Pemberton Shiraz - $21.90

This wine was included in Halliday's Top 100 Wines last November, scoring a massive 96 points. We are delighted to be able to offer further stocks of this wine at the great price of $21.90.

German owners Dr Willi Schumacher and wife Gudrun searched the world for a place to plant vines before they chose what has become the Bellarmine property in 2000. Located in the Pemberton region of southern Western Australia, the cool climate and stony outcrop helps foster the development of intensely flavoured wine that has balance and finesse. These characteristics are demonstrated in the newly released 2008 Bellarmine Shiraz which is one of the finest examples of Western Australian Shiraz we have tasted for a long time.

“96 points, Screwcap, 15% alc. This is the third release of this wine, which has already established a formidable track record. Deeply coloured; intensely fragrant black cherry, plum, licorice and spice aromas are precisely repeated on the rich and supple medium- to full-bodied palate; the tannins are round and ripe, oak a background whisper. From Pemberton, WA. Drink to 2018 with rare roast beef” - James Halliday, Top 100 Wines, The Weekend Australian, November 14-15, 2009.

2007 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon - $32.90

Under the guidance of winemaker Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix continues to impress with some outstanding quality wine. It is hard to remember Vasse Felix producing a better value wine than this newly released 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a stunning example of Margaret River Cabernet that promises a very long life in the cellar ahead of it.  

"96 points. There's a remarkable purity about this wine from the first sniff through to the last hint of the finish. It's pure cabernet essence integrated with a delightful cedar oak. Balanced and poised and displaying class and sophistication. Love the perfumed notes on the nose while the palate delivers with effortless ease to a long finish." - Ray Jordan's WA Wine Guide 2010.

"95 (96) points...this cabernet sauvignon is pure class - emphatic cabernet sauvignon. Violet, essence of blackcurrants, plus prosciutto adding complexity; flake pipe tobacco too. Juice and succulence in the mouth and really fine, long, dry tannins. Excellent tight succulence and mouth-watering fruit as in all quality cabernet sauvignon. Coats the tongue, yet there's austerity." - Tim White, Financial Review (Aus), December 2009.

"This trophy winner is the 36th release of Margaret River's first cabernet. Extremely youthful, thus benefiting from vigorous swirling, it has a velvet texture with exuberant, ultra-concentrated blackcurrant flavours balanced by finesse and elegance." - Peter Forrestal, Qantas Magazine, November 2009. 

2007 Stella Bella Shiraz - $24.90

The 2007 vintage for reds in Margaret River has been highly acclaimed. A warm and dry spring followed a warm to hot summer period resulted in an extremely fast vintage. In fact the vintage period of 23 days was the shortest in Margaret River's history. This has resulted in reds that are bold in varietal expression with rich fruit that powers over hearty tannins.

Gold Medal - 2009 Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia.  

"94 Points. Bright crimson; a highly fragrant and spicy bouquet leads into a medium-bodied palate with a display of red and black fruits, the tannins fine, the oak perfectly weighted. Screwcap. 14% alc. Drink 2022 $27 Date Tasted Feb 09" - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 Edition.

"Vibrant and deep plum in colour. Warm, expansive and filled with the aromas of poached dark-fleshed plums, freshly baked blueberry muffins and sweet spices. The palate is bursting with the flavours of cinnamon and clove spiced fruit compote, chocolate fudge, cedar and vanilla. The open knit tannin structure plays a supportive and cradling role to such generously apportioned fruit." - Notes from Stella Bella.

2005 Thompson Andrea Cabernet Merlot - $29.90

The Thompson family has a long involvement in the Margaret River wine industry, including part ownership of the Pierro and Fire Gully vineyards. Established in 1994, Thompson Estate has now established itself as one of the shining lights of Margaret River with consistently exceptional wines. 'Andrea' is Thompson Estate's flagship wine of which only very limited quantities are produced each vintage.

Less than three dozen of this wine is available.  

“96/100. Peter Thompson has won plenty of kudos already for this venture but when you see wines like this you know that he's about to go into new territory of excellence. This is a classy wine showing the velvety seamless control of Cabernet delivered with an underlying power and style. Exceptional and exciting wine” - Ray Jordan, www.rayjordanwineandfood.com.

“94 Points. Deep crimson; a very poised example of this blend, with cassis fruit, black olives and a little hint of toasty oak; the palate is polished, and vibrant, with great focus and terrific line; very long on the finish. Screwcap. 14.5% alc. Drink 2020 $35 Date Tasted Mar 08” - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2009 Edition.

2008 Leeuwin Art Series Sauvignon Blanc - $26.90

Less than two dozen available....

"94 Points. Vibrantly pure, fresh and crisp; a wine built upon the purity and energy of the palate, causing plenty of lip smacking after tasting. One-third fermented in older French oak barriques and aged on lees for 3 months. 7% Semillon. Screwcap. 12.5% alc. Drink 2012 $31 Date Tasted Dec 08" - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 Edition.  

"This quite a different style to say, those wines from across the ditch. It's minerally with a fine delicate palate. Lightly fragrant herbal aromas with faint touches of gooseberry. The palate is long and the fine acid sustains it beautifully. Great aperitif style now. 91/100." - Ray Jordan.

"A generous, fresh and juicy sauvignon blanc with a delicate bouquet of gooseberries and passionfruit backed by scents of asparagus and capsicum, with dusty nettle-like undertones. Piercingly intense, it's smooth and juicy, with a pristine core of flavour that spreads evenly along the palate before finishing with fresh lemony acids and a hint of mineral.(17.4/91, YTD 2010-2013)" - Jeremy Oliver, jeremyoliver.com.au. 

2008 Hay Shed Hill Chardonnay - $19.90

Less than 12 bottles available....

"96 Points. Notwithstanding the same modest alcohol as Pitchfork, has much greater intensity of flavour and also length; while barrel-fermented in French oak (11 months maturation) fruit, rather than oak, drives the wine. Screwcap. 12.5% alc. Drink 2018 $25 Date Tasted Dec 08" - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 Edition.  

"Michael Kerrigan makes pristine wines and he’s now got the Hay Shed Hill wines humming. This chardonnay is lovely. Elegant, pure, modestly flavoured and 100 percent satisfying. It tastes of grapefruit and nectarine and toasty oak and it all floats through your mouth with delicate ease. Nice length. Noticeably low alcohol. Already drinking well though it’s so fine and acidic that it will likely drink better given another six months in bottle. Lovely in an understated way. Rated : 91 Points Alcohol : 12.5% Price : $24 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2010 - 2012" - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front. 

2008 Cullen Mangan Semillon Sauv Blanc- $27.90

Extremely limited stocks available. 

"96 Points. A magical combination of delicacy on the bouquet with explosive intensity on the racing palatel 28 per cent barrel ferment has been absorbed in the wine; wild yeast; biodynamic grapes. 70/30. Screwcap. 11.5% alc. Drink: to 2015. Price: $35" - James Halliday, The Weekend Australian, April 18-19, 2009. 

"This delicious and elegant wine provides an excellent complement to the more powerful, but likewise excellent Sauvignon Blanc Semillon made from fruit produced on the Cullen Vineyards (see above). The wine was made from 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon, with the grapes being picked at Baumés of about 11°, when they had already retained perfect physiological ripeness. Twenty eight percent was fermented in French oak using indigenous yeasts. The wine was matured for four months in that oak and then blended with the other 72% of the wine and bottled." - Notes from Cullen.