#westernaustralia’s iconic vigneron family @paulcontiwines has released a stack of new vintages recently- and yours truly got to taste through a few this week. My notes below:
🥂 2021 Margaret River #sauvignonblanc. A real crowdpleaser here, even for yours truly who usually shies away from this varietal. From the Conti’s #cowaramup property on Miamup Rd, extended lees contact in tank with small proportion of juice put into seasoned oak for about 4 months. Precise nose of guava, passionfruit, gooseberry, lemon zest; a dry palate turns to a more grassy, asparagus affair with sweet hints of peach purée. For a fresh SB, the acid is not overwhelming at all, the aforementioned vinification method has delivered a cracking textural mouthfeel which lingers for ages on the finish. Very good. ABV 12.5% RRP $20 Score 17/20
🍷 2019 ‘Mariginiup’ #shiraz. Named for the outer #cityofwanneroo rural suburb where the Contis still retain some vineyard land but the unusually cool ‘19 vintage reduced yields significantly from this plot so they instead had to go to Margs for 90% of it. Aged in a mix of American & French oak for 12 months. An unusually earthy style here: an array of black pepper & ground cumin spices with fruit nuances of cherry & plum on the nose; the palate continues with the earthy theme, I do detect a lot of oak, especially the American component with that textbook coconut character combining with redcurrant & coffee bean. Definitely one to age. ABV 14.5% RRP $28 Score: 16/20
🍷 2019 Margaret River Cabernet Malbec. 70% #cabernetsauvignon (Miamup Rs & Grace + White vineyard) 30% Miamup #malbec. 12months in seasoned & new #frenchoak. Resembles styles from Auckland or Stellenbosch – why? Well despite the more northerly end of Margs where they’re getting the fruit from, there’s a distinct under-ripe green character running through it. Dried herbs, green capsicum, mint, bay leaf with subtle notes of blackcurrant. Palate delivers quite a chewy, almost chalky mouthfeel and after a real good swirl in the mouth, some pleasant blackcurrant, bay & black olive character unravels. Very good value for this category. ABV 14.5% RRP $20 Score 15.5/20