Halliday 2022 Results
Each August we eagerly await the release of the Halliday Wine Companion, and this year was no exception. A promise of a brand-new era, a talented team of regional tasters and Deep Woods Estate nominated for Best Value Winery of the Year was reason for much excitement.
Prolific wine writer, judge and presenter, Erin Larkin, was allocated regional taster of Western Australia. Erin’s passion for Margaret River was evident throughout the with one-liners including, "Cellar it with total confidence, but drink it whenever you want, because it is absolutely beautiful" and "boy oh boy ... this is going to give you pleasure, right now. Wow". Which wines is Erin referring to? Read below for the full review.
A highlight from the Wine Companion is our newly released 2019 Single Vineyard Cabernet Malbec, a stellar 97 points, made in tiny quantities and ‘unbelievably delicious’.
The Deep Woods 2020 Estate Rosé was awarded 96 points, making it the equal best rosé in Australia. Erin wrote, "Fermented to dry and yet astoundingly generous, this is straight-up delicious, and far longer and more thought provoking than a rosé has any business to be." We agree whole heartedly!
Along with the Best Value Winery of the Year nomination, Deep Woods also retained its 'Five Red Star' rating in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion, recognising an "outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity".
The wines scoring 90 points or more were as follows:
Deep Woods 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – 97/100
From the original vineyard planted in '87, the wine matured in new and used French oak for 18 months. This is high-quality, autocratic cabernet, with blackcurrant, earth and bay leaf on the bouquet and palate alike. Minimalist winemaking allows the fruit maximum room to speak.
Deep Woods 2019 Single Vineyard Cabernet Malbec – 97/100
Context, as they say, is everything. Opened alongside the G5 cabernet from the Single Vineyard range. The points are the same, but for very different reasons. This is unbelievably delicious – the malbec adds a backdrop of salty pomegranate, raspberry and rhubarb to the chorus of cassis and exotic spice. This has a long cellaring potential, perhaps a touch behind the G5 cabernet from the same vintage, but boy oh boy ... this is going to give you pleasure, right now. Wow.
Deep Woods 2019 Single Vineyard Cabernet G5 – 97/100
(Sadly no longer available)
A new single-vineyard wine, from a single block (G5) in Gunyulgup Valley (put that on your To Visit list, it's super-pretty) in Yallingup. Elegant, fragrant, medium bodied and silky. This is riddled with cassis, raspberry, liquorice, fennel flower, supple fruit and salivating balance. Will require a decant – the tannins call 'present' on the roll call. Cellar it with total confidence, but drink it whenever you want, because it is absolutely beautiful.
Deep Woods 2019 Reserve Chardonnay – 96/100
While the 2018 was all about latent fruit power and ripe concentration, this vintage is defined by intricate layers of flinty stone fruit and taut minerally acidity. It sings with poise and line, and doesn't stop for breath. Another astoundingly delicious chardonnay from an unbroken run. If this isn't on your annual purchase list, it should be. Screw cap.
Deep Woods 2020 Estate Rose – 96/100
(Sadly no longer available – new vintage released in spring.)
For the first time, 100% tempranillo from Yallingup Hills. Handled oxidatively and clearly the product of a warmer, richer year, this has admirable phenolic structure and shape on the palate, which contains ripe red berry fruit. Fermented to dry and yet astoundingly generous, this is straight-up delicious, and far longer and more thought provoking than a rosé has any business to be. Highest rating Rosé in the country.
Deep Woods 2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot – 94/100
Deep Woods 2020 Harmony Rosé – 94/100
Deep Woods 2019 Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon – 93/100
Deep Woods 2020 Estate Chardonnay – 93/100
Deep Woods 2020 Estate Sauvignon Blanc – 93/100
Deep Woods 2020 Hillside Semillon Sauvignon Blanc – 93/100