A Malbec-dominant red from the Mangan Vineyard, across the road from Cullen’s home site, this is brim full of spice and dark fruits with a refined finish – it makes a pretty compelling case for the grape.
This is deep and darkly fruited, with so many layers of spice, but it’s not brooding or overly big. Sour black fruits, wild plums, blackberries, mulberries, panforte and licorice on the nose, with a lilting fragrance of violets set against a tarry minerality. Those flavours kick through to the palate, with caraway seed and pumpernickel notes as well. Intense and generously fruited, this has presence without being rich, with a savoury feel to it and deceptive, almost sneaky tannins lying in wait, with hard herb featuring through the long finish.
Aside from a starring role in the French appellation of Cahors and near idolatry in Argentina, Malbec is generally relegated to be a bit player in blends, classically in Bordeaux and also in the Loire Valley, where it is called cot. Malbec is typically dark fruited, with grippy tannins a major feature.
If you’re after a wine region with a healthy dose of conspicuous glamour, then Margaret River has it all. Three hours south of Perth, ‘Margs’ is littered with iconic wineries, many with dazzling cellar doors and world-class restaurants. And then there’s the abundant sunshine, and the beaches – oh, those beaches… It’s a beautiful, beautiful place, and for a young wine region it’s very mature, with well-established paths to success built largely on the twin pillars of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon (et al). Names like Cullen, Moss Wood, Woodlands, Leeuwin Estate and Vasse Felix feel like they’re etched in stone, but in the last little while, smaller players have been making their mark, too.
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