PIERRO
One of Margaret River’s greatest chardonnay producers. Mike Peterkin combines lateral thinking with a pragmatic approach to his viticulture and winemaking. More recently, Peterkin’s investmentin new winemaking equipment including more refrigeration has resulted in further refinement. The wines have a finer and more delicate finish to them. The LTC blend of sauvignon blanc, semillon with a light touch of chardonnay is a signature wine.
Pierro Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot LTCf 2019
Not the opulence of the 2018, but instead a wine of purity and elegance with a long refined palate. Nice combination of meaty blackcurrant on the nose. The Cabernet Franc brings a lift of fragrant violet and red berry. The palate is medium bodied with a fine chalky tannin and a sliver of oak in support. A stylish wine of great poise.
Score - 93/100
Cellar - 10 years
Pierro Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Reserve 2019
Such a stylish and elegant expression of the '19 vintage. The extra time in bottle has been so important for this vintage, as it has allowed the wine to really knit together and begin to release its riches. Gets a boost with the acidity of the Petit Verdot and the perfumes of the Cab Franc. Beautiful palate structure and texture with an effortlessly long and languid finish.
Score - 95/100
Cellar - 10 years
Pierro Vintage Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Oh gosh, this is a seriously impressive '19 cabernet. Peterkin has used a small amount of Petit Verdot presumably to get some acid support. The palate is such a complex weave of blackcurrant, gamey meats and rich syrupy chocolate. Fine tannins with a chalky seashell minerality hold it to its line as it extends to its very long finish. Seamless with great power and supreme poise.
Score - 97/100
Cellar - 15 years
Pierro Chardonnay 2022
Another sensational Peterkin Chardonnay that displays the winery and vineyard DNA of richness and texture. It's a powerful statement from this vintage which produced fruit of great intensity. It shows on the palate, but then the use of oak holds it in, and the crunch slightly chalky cracked seashell acidity brings it even closer. Very long palate is keenly defined. A beauty.
Score - 98/100
Cellar - 12 years
Pierro Vintage Reserve Chardonnay 2020
I remember tasting this great Chardonnay on release, thinking I wonder how that will be in a few years. Well now I know. Bloody marvellous. This captures so much of the character of this excellent although small Margaret River vintage. It is delicate yet it has so much power driving through on the palate. Butterscotch and white peach with an edge of nectartine work in harmony. Starting to show subtle traces od development, but there is still plenty to go.
Score - 98/100
Cellar - 10 years
Pierro LTC 2023
Such a good year for white varieties and this consistently first-rate wine has delivered again, but with the addition of even more natural crunchy vibrant fruit thanks to the vintage. The palate is more intense than previous vintages but still with that structure and precision that comes with the approach of using a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon, with a light touch of Chardonnay. This really is a terrific wine. A cracker.
Score - 95/100
Cellar - 10 years
Fire Gully
Fire Gully farm was one of the original Group Settlement blocks taken up in 1922 in the Wilyabrup locality of the Margaret River district. The property was named Fire Gully after two big bush fires in 1952 and 1970 that ravaged the gully, which runs through the central block. The Fire Gully wines express Margaret River regionality and quality. Recent wines have reached another level of completeness and complexity.
Fire Gully Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2021
Sleek, refined and beautifully constructed cabernet from this cooler vintage. It’s medium bodied with notes of chalky, seashell over deeper blackcurrant fruit. The oak integration has been beautifully handled to provide support and not dominate. Lovely perfumes and a palate that has structure and poise to carry through to a long finish.
Score - 94/100
Cellar - 10 years
Fire Gully Chardonnay 2022
One of the best chardonnays yet under the Fire Gully label. Good season together with precise winemaking have brought out the best in the fruit. Aromas of lime and quince paste with subtle notes of pear and pineapple. Has a creamy palate displaying a deft touch to deliver a wine of refinement and delicacy.
Score - 93/100
Cellar - 5 years
Fire Gully Rosé 2022
These rosés from Fire Gully have been excellent in recent years. This is made from shiraz and it gets about six months in oak. Has all those red fruits of strawberry and raspberry with a floral lift of roses. The palate is flavoursome and dry with a slight savoury edge to finish. Excellent food wine rosé.
Score - 94/100
Cellar - 5 years