2022 Woodlands Margaret Half Bottle 375ml, Margaret River

Please note – this is the 375mL size of the wine (half bottle)

Very bright and deep purple-red colour; superb cassis, mulberry and cedar aromas, with some nori and meaty charcuterie aspects too. It all feds into a very elegant and intense palate of serious complexity and style. The tannins are fine, supple and drying on the finish and throughout the palate. This is something special. Drink to 2042.

97 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, November 2025

A blend of cabernet sauvignon/malbec/cabernet franc. This is so aromatic I had to sit down to take it all in: lavender, violets, nori, eucalyptus and warm earth. Full of mulberries, cassis and no shortage of cedary, spicy, charry oak. The palate has a certain elegance, even if the plentiful tannins are a tad drying on the finish. Good acidity keeps this buoyant. Drink to 2038.

95 points Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion, August 2025

The 2022 Margaret exudes a strong claret feel, offering a well-focused blend of cassis and dried herbs with French oak in tow. Punchy acid and tannins showcase a well-structured style. The wine finishes with impressive weight and density. Drink to 2038.

93 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, January 2026

Margaret is a Cabernet Sauvignon-forward blend named after Heather Watson’s great grandmother, with fruit for this wine is sourced from the original Woodlands vineyard on Caves Road. Hand-picked and sorted, the de-stemmed fruit fermented in stainless steel and matured for 18 months in French oak barrels of which 44% were new.

The 2022 is a 73/22/5 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.

About this producer

Woodlands was established in 1973 by David and Heather Watson. It was one of the first five estates to be planted in Margaret River, today drawing fruit from the original vineyard on Caves Road as well as the nearby Woodlands Brook vineyard, both in the northern Wilyabrup sub-region and the latter somewhat further away from the coast.

The vineyards cover 28 hectares and are dry-grown and hand-tended. The original Woodland vineyard is today certified organic, while Woodlands Brook is organic-in-conversion, with viticultural practices at both sites also including nods to biodynamic principles.

Woodlands remains a family-owned producer, with brothers Andrew and Stuart Watson continuing their parents’ work.