The Vintage Journal with Andrew Caillard MW

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