Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Merlot 2022 is a classic Margaret River red blend from one of the region’s founding estates — a wine of elegance, structure and genuine Wilyabrup character. Excellent flowering conditions and a warm, dry growing season produced a vintage of vitality, freshness and spring-like lift.
Tasting Notes
Appearance — Deep crimson with excellent depth and clarity.
Aroma — Perfumed and immediate — violet, rose petal and blue fruits, layered with subtle vanilla, crème caramel and gentle toast. With air, savoury nuances emerge: lavender, Provençal spices and a hint of coastal salinity.
Palate — Clean, cool entry with bright blue and red fruits. Waves of juicy fruit build through the mid-palate, supported by chewy, fruit-driven tannins. Savoury undertones of charred anise, cured meat and light toast, with bright acidity keeping everything energetic and precise. The finish is long, fresh and crunchy with a distinctly coastal feel.
Winemaking
A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec. Fruit was de-stemmed, hand sorted, crushed and fermented on skins before pressing. The wine was matured in French barriques for 14 months.
Vineyard
Sourced from a combination of Woodlands estate vineyards and select vineyards within the Wilyabrup Valley. The original Woodlands Vineyard on Caves Road was established in 1973 — one of the first five vineyards planted in the Margaret River region. Vines are dry grown and maintained by hand using traditional methods including hand weeding, cane pruning, bunch thinning and hand picking.
Vintage 2022
Flowering conditions were excellent in 2022, and thereafter conditions remained warm and dry throughout the growing season. The result is a wine full of vitality, freshness and spring-like lift.
Food Pairing
Roast lamb, grilled steak, beef Wellington, duck breast, mushroom dishes and aged cheddar.
