Winemaker Notes
The wine lands with wonderful weight, with juicy red and blueberry fruit flavors and ultra-fine tannins. It quickly tightens and dries as the acid profile bursts to life and the savory tannins take hold. The finish carries long with earthy dark chocolate, and hints of eucalyptus and liquor cherries.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple in color and redolent of creme de cassis, warm black plums and blackberry preserves, with suggestions of cigar box, cinnamon stick, cloves, lavender and bay leaf, the medium to full-bodied 2011 Heytesbury has a solid structure of firm, chewy tannins and crisp acidity cutting through the densely packed, muscular fruit. It finishes with great length. Drink it now to 2023+.
Rating: 91+
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to some of Australia’s most elegant and long-lived red and white wines, Margaret River is situated in the farthest reaches of Western Australia. Relatively warm and dry, the region is cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Margaret River takes some inspiration from Bordeaux, producing top-quality Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux Blends with firm structure, mouthwatering acidity, balanced alcohol and notes of herbs and spice. For white wines, refreshing blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well as complex, age-worthy Chardonnays are regional specialties.