Antonio Galloni - Vinuous

The top of the line Chardonnay from Larry Cherubino in 2020 draws in fruit from both cooler and warmer parts of Margaret River in Karridale and Wilyabrup. It’s an acid driven style with impressive fruit focus. Though a little closed, there are delicious citrus grapefruit pith and peel aromas well matched to prominent, high grade oak. Explosive flavours follow on a vivacious palate while precision is retained along the full length of the palate through to a very long and fine finish. It’s a n impressive example of the modern Australian style although needs time to hit its peak.

 

Larry Cherubino’ s Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River does no disappoint in 2019. Aromas are powerful, poised and precise - blackcurrant, violets and fresh sage with caramel oak influences couched in nicely behind. Followed by a reserved and elegant palate, it is fine, detailed and beautifully balanced with exceptional purity of fruit and supported for long, fine grained tannins to a very impressive finish. The balance and blend of fruit and structure is remarkable and promises a long life ahead.

 

The 2020 Chardonnay Gingin effortlessly illustrates the sheer class of the Gingin clone in Margaret River. There is a superb mix of power and complexity thanks to highly expressive aromas of nectarine, pear and florals well integrated with subtle vanillan French oak underpinned by fantastic energy and purity of fruit.  Delicious tension between bright acidity and fruit follows with impressive mid-palate sweetness of citrus and tropical flavours before delivering a long, sustained finished with attractive grip. This will blossom beautifully with time in bottle.

 

Drawn from the Pedestal vineyard which is planted on one of the highest points of the Wilyabrup Valley, the 2020 Chardonnay Pedestal Elevation is a well made wine showing both power and subtlety. Classic nectarine and floral fruits are beautifully integrated with high quality nutty French oak. Lovely palate focus follows with impressive richness well supported by zesty acidity. Gentle phenolics provide grip which supports a long and refined finish. Impressive.

 

A twin to the Gingin label, the 2020 Chardonnay Dijon has been made exclusively with fruit from Dijon clones grown in the cooler Karridale region of Margaret River. The result is a youthful and vibrant wine that carries power and subtlety. It is highly complex thanks to a blend of citrus and floral aromas lifted high by nutty, flinty complexity. There is also a delightful texture and fruit purity finely balanced with a core of tight acidity supporting pithy/citrus peel flavours and subtle oak. Another impressive wine from the Cherubino stable.

 

This Cabernet Sauvignon Pedestal is an attractively savoury rendition of Margaret River from 2020. It offers up a variety of aromas including black olive, beef stock and blackberry fruits which are well woven into spicy/cedary oak. Succulent dark berry fruits return on the palate, while still retaining a savoury feel. Ample    mouthcoating tannins and fresh acidity also provide good structure suggesting its best years are a little way off.