Fermoy's Wilyabrup Cabernet Merlot is one of Margaret River's most consistent value-for-quality red wines — a blend-driven expression of a subregion that produces some of Australia's finest Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2021 vintage benefits from a cooler growing season that brought heightened aromatics and bright natural acidity to the fruit, resulting in a wine of fine structure, freshness and genuine regional character. Winemaker Jeremy Hodgson has produced a wine that drinks beautifully now and will continue to reward patience over the next five to six years.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep crimson-ruby with good depth and clarity.
Nose: Lifted and fragrant — the cooler 2021 season is immediately apparent in the aromatics. Cassis and blackcurrant lead, with red cherry, a hint of violets and subtle dried herb character typical of Wilyabrup Cabernet. Fine cedary oak frames without dominating.
Palate: Medium-bodied with a fresh, lively entry. Blackcurrant and plum fruit is precise and well-defined, the natural acidity of the vintage giving the wine excellent shape and drive. Merlot contributes mid-palate softness, while the 2% Shiraz adds a subtle spice lift. Tannins are fine-grained and well-integrated from 18 months in French oak.
Finish: Clean, persistent and savoury — lingering red fruit and cedary oak with a refreshing acidity that leaves the palate ready for the table.
Blend & Winemaking
The 2021 blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 2% Shiraz, sourced from Fermoy's vineyards in Wilyabrup — the heart of the Margaret River appellation and one of the most celebrated Cabernet Sauvignon subregions in Australia. Maturation takes place over 18 months in French oak barriques, with 15% new oak and 85% seasoned — a measured approach that integrates oak character without overwhelming the natural fruit and regional identity of the wine.
The 2021 vintage in Margaret River was cooler than average, producing fruit with heightened aromatics, bright natural acidity and firm but fine tannin structure — conditions well-suited to the Cabernet-dominant varieties Fermoy works with in Wilyabrup.
