Woodlands Wilyabrup Malbec 2024

Tasting Notes 🍇

Appearance
Deep purple with a youthful, vibrant hue.

Aromatics
Rich cacao nibs and mulberry are lifted by violets and floral tones, with a gentle hint of spice and subtle savoury depth.

Palate
Ripe plum and blackberry flavours mingle with dark chocolate and a touch of cocoa powder. The tannins are round and silky, carrying the fruit through the mid palate with balance and control. There is real harmony here, with dark fruits and gentle oak seasoning flowing into a long, composed finish.

Finish
Long, smooth and moreish, with lingering dark berries, cocoa and a soft mineral line.

Viticulture and Winemaking 🍷

• Region: Wilyabrup Valley, Margaret River, Western Australia

• Variety: 100 percent Malbec

• Maturation: 14 months in French barrels

The aim is purity of fruit supported by fine oak integration, building texture and complexity while allowing the varietal floral lift and dark fruit core to remain front and centre.

The Wilyabrup Valley Story 🌿

Fine wine often comes down to small differences in place. A little more rain here, a warm valley breeze there, or a slope that catches the afternoon sun just so. Wilyabrup is one of those places where the details add up.

It was also the sub region singled out early by Dr John Gladstones in the 1960s as prime country for fine wine, and it became home to some of Margaret River’s earliest modern commercial plantings. The combined drainage basins of Wilyabrup and Cowaramup brooks, gravelly soils over clay, and the strong maritime influence of the Indian Ocean create a natural balance of ripeness, structure and freshness.

Gravel ensures good drainage, clay helps retain moisture through summer, and the maritime climate brings high winter rainfall followed by long dry summers. The result is fruit with concentration, perfume and natural balance, which is exactly what you feel in this Malbec.

Serving and Cellaring ❄️

• Serve at 16 to 18 °C

• Decanting: 30 to 60 minutes will enhance aromatics and soften the tannin line

• Cellaring: Drink now for vibrancy and plushness, or cellar 5 to 8 years for more savoury complexity

Food Pairing Suggestions 🍽️

• Chargrilled lamb cutlets

• Roasted eggplant with tahini and pomegranate

• Slow cooked beef ragu

• Duck with plum sauce

• Aged hard cheeses such as manchego or vintage cheddar

FAQ 🧐

Is this a big, heavy Malbec?
It has deep fruit and colour, but the tannins are silky and the balance is elegant. It feels refined rather than bulky.

Why Malbec in Wilyabrup?
Wilyabrup’s warm days and maritime moderation allow dark fruit richness, while the soils and cooling influences help retain freshness and fine tannin shape.

A dark fruited, violet scented Malbec with real polish and regional character. Quite simply, a seriously good bottle.