2025 Ray Jordan WA Wine Review
Winner - Grenache of the Year
Cherubino pushes boundaries with this marvellous grenache. It’s made in a clay cement ovoid tank which is a giant egg that creates a sort of vortex of continual movement. The outcome is stunning. There’s pristine purity and vibrancy here as the grenache elevates to new levels of seductiveness. You just keep going back for more. Terrific stuff.
96 points
2023 Cherubino Pemberton chardonnay
Runner-up: White Wine of the Year & Chardonnay of the Year
Okay, I’ve tasted a few of these and I reckon this is the best. Great vintage, yes, but then the subtle winemaking has brought it to a new dimension. While bunch pressing and naturally fermented in new and used puncheons, which just takes the edge off the oak. The power of the Gingin clone is evident immediately. Lemon, quince and brioche notes work through while the palate is a thrilling journey to a very long finish. Great wine.
98 points
2023 Cherubino Frankland River riesling
Runner-up: riesling of the Year
I suspected this might be a pretty good riesling from this region and this vintage. Well, I got it right. A pristine and pure riesling with notes of lemon zest and talcy bath salts. The palate is where this cracking wine really excels. It has a fine texture with tremendous intensity and vibrancy. Minerally, with spicy lemon characters. There’s a steely tense wet pebble edge through to the sustained finish.
96 points
2022 Cherubino Frankland River shiraz
Runner-up: shiraz of the Year
A thoroughly beautiful and quite pretty shiraz from the Riversdale vineyard in Frankland with these special clones 174, 470 and Waldron, which were introduced a few years ago. It’s silky smooth and plush but there is structure in here with fine chalky tannin and little ironstone with persistent flavours that build relentlessly. A wine of tremendous luminosity and brightness.
96 points
96 points
2024 Cherubino Pemberton sauvignon blanc
Runner-up: sauvignon blanc of the Year
I’m not sure how Cherubino has made a wine of this quality in such a hot year. But here you go. A sauvignon blanc from Pemberton which was naturally fermented and matured in French oak for eight months. Nutty stone fruit aromas and then a palate where the balance between the oak and fruit nails it. Textured and rich with slightly lemony nutty characters focussed to a long finish.
95 points
95 points
2023 Cherubino Margaret River chardonnay
Oh my. We have something here. Cherubino sources the fruit from vineyards in Karridale in the south and Wilyabrup in the north. So, you are getting that delicacy and fineness from Karridale and the power and richness from Wilyabrup. It makes for a thoroughly magnificent chardonnay that delivers a powerful statement presented with such finesse. The palate especially is so long and sustained. An outstanding wine from a great vintage.
98 points
2023 Cherubino Ovale Caves Road Margaret River chardonnay
The fruit for this wonderful chardonnay was sourced from vineyards at the Wallcliffe, Wilyabrup and Karridale along the most famous road in the region. After handpicking the fruit was pressed straight to new and used oak for fermentation and subsequent maturation for 10 months, So there is texture and palate richness here, but there is also a fine minerality and linear mouth feel that gives it focus and precision through a long palate. Slightly toasty subtle grapefruit and cashew characters with a chalky limestone acidity to finish. Damn fine.
96 points
2023 Cherubino Ovale Dijon chardonnay 2023
This cool wine is from Dijon clone fruit off the Wychwood Vineyard at Karridale. Needless to say, with that combination it is a more delicate chardonnay than those from the powerhouse Gingin clone. But this has intensity and tremendous drive through the palate. Light lemon curd and brioche with a citrussy pear character laced with a little light cashew. Love the crisp chalky acidity to finish.
96 points
2023 Cherubino Ovale Gingin chardonnay
The power and concentrated intensity of the Gingin clone from the Willows Vineyard is evident immediately on the nose. A deep wave of butterscotch, roast cashews and lemon curd emerge with intensity. Then the palate delivers with a rich textural feel, loaded with ripe stone fruit, butter scotch and quince. The finish is tidy and long with a fine lingering acidity.
95 points
2022 Cherubino Ovale Clonal Selection cabernet sauvignon
An interesting diversion from the usual WA cabernet clones in that it is from clones 377 and 191. On the nose there is a captivating mix of black fruits with a minerally ferruginous character merging into other nuances of tobacco leaf, red berry and oyster shell. The palate is very firm with substantial tannins holding it close through to the finish. Let it breathe first.
95 points
2023 On the Fringe chardonnay
The second wine along with the pinot that is part of this duo where the winemaking is hands-off and designed to capture whatever comes from the vineyard and season. So, this is terrific. Has a savoury, slightly funky aroma that provides a captivating beginning. The palate adds a little chalky acidity to provide direction to a sustained finish. Layered and complex and interesting from the get-go.
95 points
2023 Laissez Faire arneis
From the Riversdale Vineyard at Frankland River comes this mighty impressive arneis. The use of partial barrel fermentation has taken a largely fruit driven wine into another level of complexity. You still have that red apple and pear character but there is a slightly toasty infusion that adds tremendously to the final picture. Even the guys in Piedmont, which is home to this variety, might be a little scared.
95 points
