The Artizan Rare Muscat continued its remarkable success winning its 15th Trophy for Best Fortified Wine at the Western Australian Wine Awards, earlier this month. Judges were impressed “Excellent wine, detailed and nuanced, black cherry, dark chocolate, layers of orange peel, dark spice, caramel and toffee.”

This award would not be possible without the passion and foresight of our founders Graham and Merilyn Hutton to lay muscat down nearly 50 years ago. It’s a privilege to build on their legacy and continue to produce fortified wines with class and refinement.

[London June 2023]
The prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards for 2023 were announced earlier this month in London, with Gold Medals awarded to our our Classic Muscat (96 points) and Museum Rare Muscat (95 points). A huge accolade for our fortified program and ranking the Classic Muscat in the top 21 fortified wines of the world! 

Also judged in London this month was the 39th annual International Wine Challenge. Gold medals were awarded to our Artizan Rare Muscat (95 points) and Rare Tawny Fortified (95 points) 

"Australian fortified wine triumphs! - Australia has a long and distinguished history of making fortified wines, but production declined in the 60s. It is great to see winemakers responding to the growing global demand for fortified wines and drawing on their winemaking heritage to produce some outstanding wines in this category” commented IWC Co-Chair, Sam Caporn MW.

Sommeliers Choice Awards 2023
[San Fransisco June 2023]
Continued success across the Atlantic in the United States. Americas top sommeliers and wine judges assembled in San Francisco California in early June, to judge the 2023 Sommeliers Choice Awards.

We were fortunate to be awarded with four Gold medals from four entries!
It is wonderful to see our wines so well received on the international stage. 

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Ruby appearance, Cherry and blueberry notes on nose and palate too. A hint of oak on the palate. Medium acidity with good tannins. Well balanced very good wine. [GOLD]

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Deep ruby, blue fruit and green bell pepper on the nose. Follows through the palate with a bit of jalapeño flavour. Medium acidity with well integrated tannins. [GOLD]

Museum Rare Muscat
Hazelnut, figs, and walnuts on the nose. Round and opulent on the palate, lifted acidity that keeps this fresh and lively. Complex and well balanced, great wine. [GOLD]

Artizan Rare Muscat
Pistachio, figs and sweet tobacco on the nose. Walnuts and prunes on palate with round rich mouthfeel that is immediately lifted by refreshing acidity that leads to a light and delicate finish. [GOLD]

 

Wonderful recognition for our fortified wines with Huon Hooke from the Real Review ranking our wines amongst the best in the country in their latest tasting. The Museum Muscat scored highly with 97 points, this very special fortified is the pinnacle of our barrel aged program. With careful blending of material dating back to our very first wines, the Museum Muscat has an average age of 35 years.

Museum Muscat NV
“Deep, dark tawny-brown colour with a yellow rim, very viscous in the glass. The aromas are intensely aged and very complex, with molasses and toffee and malt flavours of great depth and persistence. Every indication here of a very old wine. A simply glorious wine to sip.” 97 Points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review 2023 



Artizan Rare Muscat NV
“Very deep, very aged tawny-brown appearance, with a green-yellow rim. The bouquet is extraordinarily complex and layered, the palate overflowing with toffee, molasses, raisin flavours with good muscat character and sweetness, a very viscous texture. A super-sweet, super-luscious muscat.”  96 Points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review 2023



Classic Muscat NV
“Good depth and brightness of tawny/brown colour with orange/yellow edges, the bouquet reminds of Violet Crumble—chocolate coated honeycomb—and the wine is sweet and bright on the palate, showing a lot of youthful material.” 92 Points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review 2023



Rare Tawny NV
“Deep rich tawny colour with a yellow rim, there's a lot of rancio here from excellent aged character as well as concentration and richness. A powerful, concentrated wine showing genuine age, the aftertaste rolling on very long.” 95 Points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review 2023 

The Fine Vines Festival (October 14 - 23) brings together a curated selection of more than 30 unique events showcasing the quality and depth of the Margaret River region’s premium wine offering. We are proud to be partnering with the regions premier luxury guest house, Cape Lodge to host an intimate 4 course dinner.

A member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia. Cape Lodge is set within extensive manicured gardens with giant karri trees cocooning the lodge from the world outside. With 22 suites and an onsite lakeside restaurant and bar, Cape Lodge is the perfect base for an all-inclusive stay during the Fine Vine Festival. 


Image: Cape Lodge, Member of Luxury Lodges of Australia

Fine Vines Festival
Gralyn Estate x Cape Lodge Dinner, October 21st 
"Escape to the culinary heart of Cape Lodge for a rare vinous evening, offering an exclusive peek into the intriguing world of one of the most prestigious wine producers in the country. The iconic lakeside dining room of the South West is set to welcome long-standing Caves Road neighbour, Gralyn Estate who has been meticulously crafting premium limited-release wines since 1975. Settle in for an intimate journey through four courses, curated by newly appointed Cape Lodge head chef, Adam Robson Chew, (Nomad, Bentley) paired with some of the most highly sought-after wines from Gralyn Estate."

Tickets are $290 per person. This includes a glass of sparkling on arrival and a four-course dinner prepared by Cape Lodge head chef Adam Robson Chew, each course paired with a Gralyn wine.

We encourage you to linger a little longer in one of the 22 elegantly-appointed suites at Cape Lodge – exclusive rates for guests attending the event. Simply use the code: FINEVINES upon making a reservation.

Book Fine Vines Festival tickets here

Book Cape Lodge accomodation here


Image: Gralyn Estate's award winning Cabernet Sauvignon

THE VINTAGE JOURNAL 
MARGARET RIVER GUIDE 2022
BY ANDREW CAILLARD MW AND ANGUS HUGHSON

The Vintage Journal is one of Australia's leading platforms for fine wine and Australian wine history. Respected wine writers Andrew Caillard MW and Angus Hughson visited the region recently for a tasting of Margaret River’s famed varietals, namely Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The comprehensive 74 page chronicle deep-dives into what makes Margaret River and its people true leaders in the production of international fine wine. Covering the beginnings, with ambitious pioneering families through to todays modern day wine industry.

"Ultimately, the success and reputation of the region have been shaped by imagination, collaboration, and visions small and great."

We are very proud of our feature, look out for our 97 point Cabernet Sauvignon.
Enjoy the read!

Link: The Vintage Journal Margaret River Guide 2022


2013 Gralyn Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Margaret River, Western Australia

Medium deep crimson. Fresh developed blackcurrant, roasted walnut, vanilla, marzipan aromas with subtle bush-garrigue notes. Inky deep and gravelly in structure with lovely cassis, dark plum fruits, fine cedar, firm tannins and integrated mocha oak notes. Finishes claret firm, sweet-fruited and minerally. Nearly ten years old, but still youthful, buoyant and fresh with a touch of cigar-box complexity. Impressively balanced and preserved. What a surprise!
Now – 2035 13.2% alc 97 points


NV Gralyn Estate Rare Tawny
Margaret River, Western Australia

Medium deep tawny colour. Fresh espresso, toffee roasted hazelnut, mocha, marzipan, aniseed aromas. Richly flavoured and complex with toffee, crème brulée, roasted coffee, roasted hazelnut, liquorice flavours, a hint of rancio, fine chalky textures, superb mid-palate density and fresh linear aniseed notes. Finishes chocolatey and round with the alcohol driving the flavours to the back palate. A reference WA style.
Now – 2040 19.0% alc 95 points


NV Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat
Margaret River, Western Australia

Medium deep. Intense dried plum, raisin, paneforte, caramel, crème brulée, shellac aromas. Complex, concentrated and evolved with plentiful sweet prune, raisin, caramel, treacle, roasted cashew nut flavours, fine loose knit chalky textures, lovely mid-palate viscosity and fresh persistent aniseed notes. Very long treacly, after-taste. A stand-out Western Australian Muscat with extraordinary density and potency.
18% alc 96 points

The Top Wineries of Australia list for 2022 has just been released by the Real Review. Gralyn Estate sits amongst prestigious company listed at #23.

This is wonderful recognition for our small family owned estate and is testament to our site and the wines produced over the last 40+ years. The Top 52 wineries in this list represent the crème de la crème 2% of Australia’s 2156 wineries.

23. GRALYN ESTATE
Location: Margaret River, WA
Best known for: Cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, which can be among the region’s best, but an extremely concentrated old fortified muscat named Artizan is always threatening to upset the hierarchy.

Huon Hooke says: Artizan Rare Muscat, as good as almost anything in Rutherglen, scored 98 points, defying every expectation of Margaret River. It led the charge from the hyper-grapefruity 2018 Reserve Chardonnay, 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and the Classic Muscat, which is a younger sister for Artizan and almost half the price.

Read the full Top Wineries of Australia list here...

Article by Nicky Lefebvre first appeared in the Augusta Margaret River Mail Newspaper, Wednesday 13 April 2022 

"EVERYTHING about this wine is exquisite - from flavour to label."

So say the 2022 London Wine Competition judges, who awarded Margaret River region winery Gralyn Estate the highest prize of the event, the coveted 'Wine of the Year'. Judging for the 2022 competition took place at St Mary's Church in London's Marylebone this week, with a record, 300 wines submitted from 36 countries. To be a medal winner, wines must score highly in all three criteria, with a weighting on scores for quality.  The only wine to score 97 points, the Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat NV was also awarded 'Best in Show by Country' and 'Best Wine of the Year by Quality'.

Gralyn Estate was founded in Wilyabrup in 1975 and was the first to open a commercial cellar door in Margaret River in 1978.

Owners and winemakers Scott and Annette Baxter took the helm two years ago from Annette's parents, founders Graham and Merilyn Hutton. Scott Baxter said the secret to the success of the fortified wine came down to the quality of the fruit, the barrel age, and blending and freshening. "Very old brandy barrels are used to store the Artizan, so as not to impart too much oak character, allowing it to develop rancio complexity," Mr Baxter said.” These wines are precious as there is considerable loss each year from evaporation, what's described as the Angel's Share, and this gives the wine it’s power." The wine is produced using the Solera System, a winemaking practice where younger wines are blended in barrels storing older wines, and hence termed non-vintage or NV. The solera in the Artizan Rare Muscat NV dates back 40 years. "We're winning accolades now because Annette's parents had the foresight 40 years ago to barrel age this beautiful wine," said Mr Baxter." They knew it was special, they knew it had its place and they believed that they were on to something for which we're very grateful, because now we're reaping the rewards of their vision and hard work." Gralyn Estate was awarded Gold for both its 2017 and 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.


Image: Scott and Annette Baxter toasting to their success at the London Wine Competition 

The results of the 2022 London Wine Competition have just been released overnight. Gralyn Estate has been announced the overall winner, with our Artizan Rare Muscat awarded 97 points and Wine of the Year!

The Artizan Rare Muscat won Wine of the Year and also topped three prestigious categories - Gold Medal with 97 Points, Best in Show by Country, and Best Wine of the Year by Quality, a tremendous accolade for this storied wine.

"1300 wines from more than 36 Countries participated in the 2022 London Wine Competition. To be an award winner at the London Wine Competition, you will need to have a top-quality wine that offers both the trade and the consumer great value for money. It takes a lot to win big at the London Wine Competition. No wonder, the 2022 London Wine Competition saw a wine that checked all the boxes and grab the title of the Wine of the Year."

"Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat is a fortified wine and a specialty of the Estate’s legacy of wines. It is made from the Muscat varietal. This wine is produced using the Solera System. Within this winemaking practice, younger wines are blended in casks storing older wines. This process makes a blend of differently aged wines which results in no fixed vintage date. Blended over the years, these high-quality wines all hold a little bit of a legacy within them. Wines made within the Solera system are termed non-vintage or NV."

"The award winner at the 2022 London Wine Competition, Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat, is matured in old oak casks and is a limited release. Everything about this wine is exquisite  — from flavour to label. It is rich and sports intense flavours of raisin and toffee. This exquisiteness also reflects in the intricate label which is an original artwork by Merilyn Hutton."

Judges Comments - 2022 London Wine Competition

A South West winery has been recognised on the global stage, taking out one of the premier categories at the 2022 London Wine and Spirits Competition. Wilyabrup’s Gralyn Estate was recognised with the Wine of the Year award for its Artizan Rare Muscat, which was the only wine to score 97 out a possible 100. Gralyn also took out the best in show by country category.

The renowned competition seeks to “judge drinks in the same way consumers buy them” in which entrants are marked on quality, value for money and packaging and design.

Gralyn Estate owner Scott Baxter said the honour was owed to his wife’s parents. “We’re winning accolades now because Annette’s parents had the foresight 40 years ago to barrel-age this beautiful wine,” he said. “They knew it was special, they knew it had its place and they believed that they were on to something for which we’re very grateful, because now we’re reaping the rewards of their vision and hard work.”

Gralyn Estate was also awarded gold for both its 2017 and 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at the London Wine and Spirits Competition.

This year a record number of wines was submitted, 1300 from 36 countries. The spirits category also had a record number of entrants with about 2500 spirits brands from more than 80 countries vying for gold, silver and bronze medals.

Chief executive of the Beverage Trade Network, Sid Patel, said the competition was of a higher calibre compared with previous years. “We were blown away not just by the standard of wines and spirits entered but by the numbers of producers and import in the 2022 competition,” he said.

Story by Brianna Redhead - Article first appeared in the Busselton Dunsborough Times 8th April 2022

Internationally recognised Master of Wine Andrew Caillard has just reviewed our core range of premium wines for the Vintage Journal. The Vintage Journal is one of Australia's leading platforms for fine wine and Australian wine history. Andrew is a recognised industry authority and we are very proud of this latest review of Gralyn Estate.

We hope that you enjoy the read and perhaps treat yourself to some of Andrew's recommendations. With International borders now open, we look forward to welcoming you back to the estate.

Gralyn Estate - Classic Wilyabrup
"The Lilliputian Gralyn Estate vineyards are wrapped by around 200 hectares of prime grazing and dairying land in the heart of the Wilyabrup sub-region of the Margaret River. The property borders “First Growth” Margaret River producers Cullen, Moss Wood and Vasse Felix. Its limited unirrigated vineyard plantings from 1975 include 2.5 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and just 0.75 hectares of Shiraz. This is classic Wilyabrup country comprising free draining lateritic gravelly loams over a clay subsoil. The vineyard was established by farmers Merilyn and Graham Hutton."

"Gralyn Estate is now run by their daughter Annette and viticulturist husband Scott Baxter. Most of the publicity surrounds their fortified wine portfolio which is a rare category in Margaret River territory. Gralyn Estate’s cellar door, on the Caves Road tourist route, is also an attractive hitching station for travellers and Perth weekend trippers. The exotic offering of wine styles is clearly harnessed to an eclectic audience of wine drinkers and loyal customers. This review of Gralyn Estate’s reserve and fortified wines, however, reveals a core of very high-quality wines. The 2018 and 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons are an outstanding foil to each other and highlight the provenance of vineyard site and ageing potential. Despite its wine show success and accolades, Gralyn Estate should be better known in fine wine circles." 
Andrew Caillard MW - The Vintage Journal March 2022

Image: Scott and Annette Baxter  March 2022

2018 Gralyn Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River Western Australia
Pale colour. Classic grapefruit, white peach aromas with marzipan, grilled nut notes. Well concentrated, creamy and minerally with lovely ripe grapefruit, white peach, apricot flavours, attractive mid palate viscosity and fresh indelible acidity. Finishes al-dente firm with attractive mineral length. This is textbook Margaret River Chardonnay showing superb complexity and torque. Sourced from the Wildberry Vineyard, Wilyabrup.
Now – 2028 13.4% alc 96 points

2013 Gralyn Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Fresh developed blackcurrant, roasted walnut, vanilla, marzipan aromas with subtle bush-garrigue notes. Inky deep and gravelly in structure with lovely cassis, dark plum fruits, fine cedar, firm tannins and integrated mocha oak notes. Finishes claret firm, sweet-fruited and minerally. Nearly ten years old, but still youthful, buoyant and fresh with a touch of cigar-box complexity. Impressively balanced and preserved. What a surprise!
Now – 2035 13.2% alc 97 points

NV Gralyn Estate Rare Tawny, Margaret River Western Australia
Medium deep tawny colour. Fresh espresso, toffee roasted hazelnut, mocha, marzipan, aniseed aromas. Richly flavoured and complex with toffee, crème brulée, roasted coffee, roasted hazelnut, liquorice flavours, a hint of rancio, fine chalky textures, superb mid-palate density and fresh linear aniseed notes. Finishes chocolatey and round with the alcohol driving the flavours to the back palate. A reference WA style.
Now – 2040 19.0% alc 95 points

NV Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat
Medium deep. Intense dried plum, raisin, paneforte, caramel, crème brulée, shellac aromas. Complex, concentrated and evolved with plentiful sweet prune, raisin, caramel, treacle, roasted cashew nut flavours, fine loose knit chalky textures, lovely mid-palate viscosity and fresh persistent aniseed notes. Very long treacly, after-taste. A stand-out Western Australian Muscat with extraordinary density and potency.
18% alc 96 points



Image: 97 points - 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon