Willespie Wines

Country of Origin: Australia - Margaret River (Western Australia)
(Est. 1974)

Margaret River is one of the great wine regions of the world. It has many different areas, which enjoy differing weather influences or macroclimates, which influence grape growing significantly.

The Willyabrup locality where the original Willespie plantings and winery are situated, experiences the moderating influence of the Indian Ocean, four kilometres away. The cool breezes and temperate evenings reflect a Mediterranean climate. The new Willespie vineyard in the Jindong area is a little further inland and experiences warmer days and colder nights, which reflects a more continental climate.

The macroclimatic influences in the vineyards of the two areas produce grapes with different characteristics, which in turn give the winemakers greater possibilities and blending options in the winery.

This philosophy enables Willespie to make the highest quality wines, that still proclaim distinctive Margaret River regionality and typicity.

The wines:
The wines produced at Willespie have collected many awards over the years, both in Australia and internationally. Importantly, the wines reflect the place from whence they came; the different soils, sunshine hours and rainfall in the vineyards. Modern viticultural practices and minimalist winemaking intervention ensure that the wine in the bottle expresses the intense varietal and vineyard fruit characters, that set Willespie wines apart from others.

Chardonnay

750ml/Bottle

A well rounded Margaret River style that sings of melons, stone fruits and buttery complexities. The subtle use of new French oak barriques for fermentation, has added extra dimensions of character that is only found in top class chardonnays of this caliber.

This variety goes with anything and everything. Margaret River chardonnay is a very rich wine style and has the palate weight and length of flavour to match it with all food, or even without.

Shiraz

750ml/Bottle

A medium bodied, elegant Shiraz with juicy, crisp, red berry fruits of raspberry, mulberry and strawberry. Fine light tannins and acids extend these fruit characters to meld with the subtle hints of sweet spices.

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

750ml/Bottle

The region has established an excellent reputation for this blend, and it’s not hard to see why. The full-bodied semillon component gives structure and weight to the fresh fruit characters of the sauvignon, which produces a rounded flavoursome wine of great charm.

An ideal food wine, that with bottle age, develops into something quite special.

A very full-bodied and mouthfilling style that has real weight partly derived from the oak maturation. As a youngster it goes with anything, although with some bottle age, demands fuller flavoured dishes such as poultry and pork and rich vegetable dishes.

Cabernet Sauvignon

750ml/Bottle

This is a Cabernet Sauvignon of elegance and finesse. Fragrant notes of fresh sage, tarragon and cinnamon curls integrate deliciously with the primary fruit characters of stewed plum, rhubarb and blackcurrant. A beautiful balance has been achieved with the restrained use of French oak. This allows oak tannins and flavours to meld and complement those of the fruit. This is a mouthfilling wine with a long luscious finish. A little slow to open, it is worth the wait. Hold in your mouth for a few seconds and wait for it to open.

Verdelho

750ml/Bottle

Made in a dry-style, the tropical flavours of lychee, and pineapple are obvious. Underlying these notes, are the citrus notes of lime and grapefruit, but also a hint of vanilla. Melon and nutmeg also add to the complexity of the wine, as every taste brings something new. The acidity provides the backbone of this wine, which as a riper style is necessary for balance. It provides a delicious 'crunch' as a younger style, but also insists that as it ages, the wine will become more rounded and luscious, ensuring this wine drinks well now, and well into the future.

Cabernet Franc

750ml/Bottle

Cabernet Franc is often used in a red wine blend. It is attributed to being one of the two parent grapes which combined with Sauvignon Blanc created the popular Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Thin-skinned deeply coloured grapes give the wine a soft lift of raspberries and violets. This is combined with blackberry, cassis and fresh herbal flavours and has a delightful spicy aroma.

Old School Semillon

750ml/Bottle

Another in a long line of fantastic dry grown Willespie Semillons. This wine is a vibrant fruit driven style with seamless French oak integration. 15% was barrel fermented. Flavours of gooseberry, ripe apples, grapefruit, honeysuckle, and nectarine blend with the classic herbaceous notes of semillon. Fruit sweetness is enhanced by secondary characters of fresh mown hay and honeydew melons.

Old School Cabernet Sauvignon

750ml/Bottle

Margaret River Red

750ml/Bottle

Merlot adds a soft mouthfilling texture and provides a long finish. The addition of Shiraz makes this more than a Cab-Merlot. It adds dark fruit flavours and spicy nuances. Three years of aging in French barrels ties the wine together and creates great balance.

This wine has wonderful texture with a lengthy finish that stands out. Exhibiting a balanced combination of very long tannins and complementary ripe fruited acidity.

Margaret River White

750ml/Bottle

This wine delivers on many levels: Pale straw in colour, with a slight greenish hue. On the nose the Riesling character is brought to the fore. Strong aromas of musk, sherbert, citrus zest and some floral notes. As well as underlying banana esters, pineapple juice, nectarine/peacharine and kiwi from the ripe Semillon bring it all together. And then a slight cheesiness derived from lees stirring of the Semillon and Verdelho give the wine another layer of complexity. The Semillon and sauvignon blanc are a bit more prominent on the palate. Bringing tropical base flavours of pineapple, passionfruit, guava as well as the traditional "willespie" character of herbaceous/vegetal notes. As well as bringing along a lot of the Riesling/Verdelho aromas from the bouquet.

The weight on the palate is spot on. Slightly thin on the front, generous mid-palate, with a crisp finish pre- serving the flavour. The back palate is without any bitterness, ensuring the finish is solely flavourful. The acidity is a contradiction in terms, but it works; Tight but well rounded, not excessive but not flabby and has a hint of minerality derived from the Verdelho that brings it all together.