Woodlands Rated by Wine Front

#1 Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2017

An interesting exercise tasting the 2016 alongside 2017, and while similar, you can certainly see a marked difference between the wines, not only due to an extra year of bottle age.

Boysenberry, mulberry, violet, slight youthful char, liquorice, spicy biscuits. It’s medium-bodied, so brightly lit and well-defined, a coolness and distinct ‘minerality’ to the acidity, precise and tight, fine graphite tannin, and an effortlessly long finish.
 Rated: 94+ Points 
Tasted: Jul19
 Alcohol: 13.5%
 Closure: Screw cap
 Drink: 2020 – 2027+.

#2 Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2016

Tasting alongside the 2017 vintage, which is current ex-winery, though this vintage is still available via its Sydney distributor: QED.

Finesse and fine bones, blue and red fruit, perfume, cedar and spice, with a slight earthiness. Bright and well-defined, savoury toast, tobacco and cedar flavours in the mix, red fruits too, firm but ripe tannin, and a dried herb and spice finish with juicy redcurrant trailing in the aftertaste. A whole lot of class at a modest price.
 Rated: 93 Points
 Tasted: Jul 19
 Alcohol: 13.5%
 Closure: Screw cap 
Drink: 2019 – 2026+

#3 Woodlands ‘Margaret’ Reserve Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2016

Missed the 2015, but here we are.

Blackberry, cherry, tobacco and ash, mint chocolate, cedar, flowers and dried herb. Medium-bodied, cherry pie, a bit of spice too, with earth, pencil and dried herb accents, grainy open-weave tannin, a cool and minerally feel, a long perfumed mixed berry finish to close. Excellent.
Rated : 95 Points
 Tasted : Jul19
Alcohol : 13.5%
 Closure: Screwcap
 Drink: 2022 – 2030+.

#4 Woodlands ‘Emily’ 2017

47% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, 11% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. It’s been a little while between drinks on the Emily front round here.

Black and red fruit, floral notes, a little peppermint, toasty spicy oak. Medium-bodied, savoury and juicy at once, fine boned with grainy tannin and pencil flavours, fresh finish with a bit of grip. Rated: 94+ Points
 Tasted: Jul 19
 Alcohol: 13.5%
 Closure: Screw cap Drink: 2022 – 2030