2023 Stella Bella Cabernet Merlot, Margaret River

A streamlined, linear Cabernet Merlot that hails from the southern end of Margaret River and offers some pretty sharp value for money. That’s one penetrating aroma, all spearmint, dried herbs, rosemary, jalapeño and baking spices married to the ripest blackberries. What starts off well-structured and a little closed doesn’t take too long to open up. After a few swishes of air, it’s more upfront with a middle palate of sweet ripe fruits in blackberry and dark plum, black cherry bright with graphite, pencil lead oak. This is one Cabernet Merlot fully dedicated to black fruits, dried herbs and an earthiness that speaks of the region’s Aussie bush environment. Tannins are well-built, ensuring more time in bottle should you wish. Drink 2025-2029

92 points Jeni Port Wine Pilot, August 2025

Super-intense and almost opaque purple colour; the aroma is very fresh and primal, with herbal and mulberry juice nuances. The wine is likewise raw and primal, somewhat callow and unevolved, the fruit doing 100% of the talking. There is impressive concentration of fruit plus mouth-coating tannins which are ripe and supple. All it needs is more time. Drink 2027-2037.

92 points Huon Hooke The Real Review, September 2025

This Cabernet Merlot packs a punch! Bright and charming, the perfume of Cabernet Sauvignon strikes you first, followed swiftly by its precise and structured palate. With its partner in crime Merlot providing the palate weight, with fruit generosity and richness.

Red, with purple hues. Mulberries and satsuma plums lift out of the glass in an explosive fashion. Followed by aromas of red currants, cherries and cranberries with a touch of vanilla spice and a hint of smokiness. Juicy, medium bodied and full of flavour. Red currants, cherries and blueberries fill the palate complemented by the dusty fine-grained tannin and precise structure. The refreshing acidity balances the supple tannin and red fruits for an extremely smash-able wine that leaves you wanting more.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot from the southern part of Margaret River. The Cabernet Sauvignon component was held on skins for 10 days to help build structure. The Merlot was pressed earlier to retain bright fruit aromatics. 10% new French oak was used to complement the fruit while providing some subtle mocha and vanillin oak sweetness. 12 months maturation in oak and tank.