• Delivery
Wine clubWine clubWine clubWine club
  • Gift registry
  • Wishlist
  • FAQs
Some precious old blocks of ancient vine Grenache still remain after a government sponsored program to cull unproductive vineyards during the 1980s. Yielding excruciatingly small harvests of the most characterful fruit, these wizzened old veterans deliver small batch vintages which are evocative of the old world classics from Cotes du Rhone. The enduring Wirra Wirra were established 1894, their eclectic range belies the splendour of small parcels which are separately handled and bottled for exclusive release. The Absconder draws fruit from vines planted a century ago, it merits a breathing and decant, an articulation about the sublime excellence of old vine.. The compelling case for old vines grenache»
A living legend and bespoke savant of the Australian wine industry, Geoff Merrill began his career in 1973 at Seppelt & Son, before completing tours of duty at Thomas Hardy and Chateau Reynella. Geoff acquired the historic Reynella wineworks in 1985 and has continued to craft many of McLaren Vale's most memorable vintages ever since. Mr Merrill has claimed countless industry accolades and many of our nation's most prestigious awards, including the hotly contested VISY Great Shiraz Challenge and the illustrious Jimmy Watson Trophy. Merrill offers a range of artisanal, limited release wines, of timely age, extravagant oak and sound value... The advanced age & luxury oak of mclaren vale's quiet achiever»
The family Hentschke have been Barossa farming since 1842, they know from good soils and settle on nothing but the finest land. Keith Hentschke chose a special site along Greenock Creek, at the intersection of Gerald Roberts and Jenke Roads, near the ancient winegrowing hamlet of Seppeltsfield to plant vines in the early 1990s. They now yield vintages of the most amazing intensity, saturated with the essence of grand Barossa Shiraz, an international wine industry favourite and a sagacious selection this.. Savour a sip of seppeltsfield»
Xavier Bizot can make wine anywhere he pleases, he is a Bollinger and grew up amongst the Vignobles Superieurs of Champagne. Bizot has chosen to make wine alongside Brian Croser's family, from grapes harvested off three magnificent sites, on two paradoxically varied terrains. Planted to the salubrious Terra rosa soils atop an invaluable archeological dig at Wrattonbully, rich with the undisturbed fossils of ancient Cenozoic sea animals, Crayeres Vineyard was established right across the road from Tapanappa's illustrious Whalebone. The weather here is astonishingly similar to Bordeaux and makes an awesome Cabernet Franc. Xavier Bizot and Lucy Croser are also.. The twin tales of terre a terre»

Capel Vale Debut Malbec CONFIRM VINTAGE

Malbec Western Australia
Debut best illustrates the remarkable power, intense flavour profiles and sophistication of Merlot grown to good vineyards around Geographe Bay. One of the few major family owner operated wineries in Western Australia, Capel Vale have grown enormously in stature as a purveyor of the finest Merlot through a succession of highly acclaimed editions. Attend this memorable Debut with cutlets of rare pink lamb, a red wine osso bucco or hard, pungent cheese.
Available by the dozen
Case of 12
$263.00
Eighty acres of capel Vale vineyards are named after the original Capel Shire subdivisions, the Stirling district being one of the earliest areas surveyed in the entire state. Merlot grapes are partially hand picked off a split canopy trellising system and de-stemmed without any crushing for maximum whole berry inclusion. The musts are chilled and cold soaked for up to five days followed by a traditional vinification. Batches are pressed and settled, racked off gross lees for malolactic and maturation in seasoned French oak barriques to soften the tannins while building structure.
Plum / cherry coloured. Bouquets of kirsch and plum, blackcurrants, bramble and spice, luscious dark blueberry fruits are complemented by mint, leather notes and autumn leaves. The palate is rich and generous whilst maintaining elegance and finesse, sweet plum and cherry flavours, tomatoes and mint, complemented by subtle spice, chocolates and tobacco, over a length of fine tannins, leading to a dry, satisfying finish.
Capel Vale
1 - 12 of 13
1 2 next»
1 - 12 of 13
1 2 next»
Capel Vale
Capel Vale began as a hobby for Sydney radiologist Dr Peter Pratten and his wife Elizabeth when they purchased land on the Capel River between Bunbury and Busselton in 1974

Capel Vale Winery, restaurant and cellar door, now sit atop the original vineyard site, Stirling Estate. Stirling Estate was originally the site of a stone fruit orchard in the 1930s. Consisting of rich, red alluvial loams over a limestone base, it possessed a natural, permanent watertable and was perfect for growing vines. The first plantings were in 1974, producing the first commercial vintage in 1980. After determining that the soils of the Capel area (now included in the EU registered Geographe Region) were best suited to Chardonnay and Merlot, it became the Prattens passion to determine the best region in South Western Australia for each of the main premium grape varieties.

Capel Vale

The winemaking philosophy is to make intensely fruit driven, complex, powerful, yet elegant wines, from the regions most suited to each separate premium grape variety in Western Australia. Capel Vale now sources fruit from its own Stirling and Wellington vineyards in Capel, its Whispering Hill vineyard in Mount Barker, Sheldrake in Pemberton, and Madrigals, the latest development at Margaret River. Capel Vale has grown enormously, and now is one of the few major family owned wineries in Western Australia.

Capel Vale owns and operates seven vineyards in the four EU registered growing areas in South Western Australia, in total 500 acres (210 hectares). Each vineyard grows the most appropriate fruit appropriate for the climate and terroir. The winery's operation has played an important role in the establishment of the Western Australian Wine Industry and the recognition of South Western Australia as a premium grape growing region. The winery now exports to over fifteen countries. It's been an amazing journey from a few vines and a small tin shed!

The Whispering Hill vineyard is the most southern at Mount Barker, followed by Sheldrake at Pemberton, Madrigals at Margaret River and Stirling and Wellington at Capel in the increasingly recognised region of Geographe. All wine produced by Capel Vale is made at the winery on the Stirling Estate in Capel.

Capel Vale

Capel Vale's vineyards in the Geographe region consist of Capel Stirling 1, Capel Stirling 2 and Capel Wellington, eighty acres in total. The first vines were planted on the Stirling Estate vineyard in 1974. The winery, bottling line, warehouse, tasting cellar and restaurant are now all located on this property. The vineyards are named after the original Capel shire subdivisions. The Stirling area being one of the earliest surveyed areas in the state, deriving its name from Captain James Stirling, the founding father of modern Western Australia.

The Pemberton area is enjoying increasing acclaim as a premium cool climate viticultural region producing elegant flavours and wines of note. Capel Vale's Sheldrake Vineyard was planted in the winter of 1995 to initially supplement and ultimately replace fruit sourced from the Pemberton region. The name 'Sheldrake' seemed a natural progression from our emblem, the Shelduck. The vineyards here support superb varietal vines.

When Capel Vale's Margaret River vineyard site was purchased the wide variety of native birds in the area inspired the name Madrigals. A madrigal is a part-song sung by several voices. The word voices is to be taken literally, the madrigal being a piece of vocal chamber music, dating back to the 1600s, intended to be performed with one singer to a part. It was noticed that the birds around the vineyard seemed to be singing in a madrigal style. Rather than all singing together it was as if each were awaiting their lines. Then, as if on cue, the next madrigal would perform their contribution to the recital.

The vineyard name, Whispering Hill was inspired by the noise that the wind makes when blowing through a stand of rare Casuarina trees, near a rocky outcrop on the property - making it indeed a Whispering Hill. Fruit from the vineyard has a long history of producing award winning wines. This began when the 1986 Capel Vale Riesling was awarded the Australian National Dry White Champion - against many other varieties of white wines. This particular wine was made by Capel Vale's owner and founder Dr Peter Pratten from 75% Mt Barker and 25% Capel fruit. The accolades have continued with the Whispering Hill Riesling receiving Top Gold at the Mt Barker Show.

Capel Vale