2022 Woodlands Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Margaret River

Deep red-purple colour; reserved meaty and brooding dark fruit aromas, the palate fresh and lively with good acidity and energy, the cassisy cabernet identity more obvious on palate. A quite smart cabernet, with detail and charm as well as structure. Drink to 2037.

92 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, November 2025

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Wilyabrup Valley is energetic, offering bright fruit pastille aromas alongside leafy tones. It shows great subtlety and refinement in an early drinking package done well. Drink to 2030.

92 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, January 2026

Flavoursome medium bodied cabernet blend displaying the fruit generosity of this vintage. Ripe blackcurrant and mulberry aromas with a little savoury plummy character edging in. The palate is packed with ripe black fruit and a little red fruit lift. Subtle leaf and seashell minerally play their role in a smoothly finished young wine.

90 points Ray Jordan, Wine Review 2026

Woodlands was established in 1973 by David and Heather Watson. It was one of the first five vineyards to be planted in Margaret River, today drawing fruit from the original Caves Road vineyard 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.

The Wilyabrup Valley tier of wines blend fruit from two estate vineyards and drink well on release. The 2022 season was fine and warm with reds ripening slightly earlier than usual, with excellent quality fruit across the region. The fruit for this wine was hand-sorted at the winery and rested 14 months in primarily well-seasoned French oak barrels.

The aromas are lively, with black fruit aromas featuring cassis pastille and ripe mulberries. The medium-bodied palate offers generous fruit as well as freshness and structure.

Margaret River’s 2022 Cabernet-wines offer generous fruit and are already drinking well. Try with a mushroom and lentil ragu, or slow-braised beef cheeks.