Amelia Park Wines: October 2022

Barry Weinman: 8^th October 2022

Amelia Park remains one of the more memorable cellar doors in Western Australia. The vista as you walk into the tasting room is nothing short of breathtaking. And when you combine that with superb (and great value) wines and knowledgeable staff, it makes for a fantastic experience.

Like many wineries in the region, Amelia Park now charges a small fee to taste through the range. And I for one am really pleased to see this. To pay $10 (free if you buy a bottle of wine) to taste over ten high-quality wines in a superb setting is an absolute bargain, especially when you consider that the wines are in top form.

The entry level Trellis range must surely be the bargain wines in the region. The Chardonnay and Cabernet/Merlot in particular are serious wines that belie their $18 price (cheaper for members).

But there is value across the range, with the Estate and Reserve wines priced sensibly, making them very accessible, especially if you take up a membership (Subscription).

Reviewed

Amelia Park – Trellis – Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – 2022. A 60/40 blend. Floral, fragrant, and really quite pretty, with tropical fruit and passionfruit highlights. The palate is clean, fresh and zesty, and whilst not overly complex, has decent length of flavour. Brilliant value summer quaffing. 89pts – $18

Amelia Park– Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc – 2022. This is less floral and more savoury, with more depth of flavour and increased texture, thanks to some subtle work in the winery. With a slightly chalky texture, this will be great with a lighter meal. 90pts – $25

Amelia Park – Pinot Gris – 2021. Colour is a giveaway for the variety, having a bit more intensity than the previous wines. I really like this, as it balances fresh fruit and gentle phenolic richness that really fills out the mid palate. Pear skin and gentle nuttiness on the close. Great drinking now. 91pts – $29

Amelia Park – Riesling – 2021. Initially a bit closed and tight, but, as it warmed, the lovely citrus fruit starts to express. The plate is fresh, with citrus fruit and fine acidity the key drivers of length. The texture and mouthfeel are a highlight, with chalky minerality adding to the experience. Good to go now or in 5+ years. 30% of the wine was aged in old oak to aid texture and mouthfeel. 92pts -$35.

Amelia Park – Trellis- Chardonnay – 2021. This wine feels a lot more expensive that its meagre price. Hand-picked Wilyabrup fruit has been gently massaged in the winery (wild ferment, 6 months in older oak on lees). This smells impressive. Ripe chardonnay fruit with supple winemaking influences adding depth. Peach, grapefruit, subtle minerality. Excellent mouthfeel and texture and decent length to boot. Unbelievable value at $18. 92pts.

Amelia Park – Reserve – Chardonnay – 2021. This has a real wow factor. Superb peachy fruit is the focus, complemented by floral tropical notes. The palate is pretty and elegant. The Intense fruit clearly reflects the cooler vintage, yet there is still a generosity that makes this superb drinking. The acid profile will allow this to be paired with quite rich food like a creamy pasta. The stats: Wild yeast, barrel ferment, 10 months in oak (33% new) , lees stirring, 13% alc. 95pts – $70.

Amelia Park – Trellis – Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot – 2021. Pretty, fragrant, supple and savoury, with gentle texture and hints of spice. Impressive depth of fruit for a wine at this price point. Great drinking now and, again, great value. This is much better than a quaff. 93 pts – $18.

Amelia Park – Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot – 2021. Silky, supple and textured. This is pretty and fine, yet there is excellent fruit weight sitting behind the textural components. Excellent length of flavours (blueberry) and balance, with a near seamless palate transition adding to the appeal. Aging in oak hogs-heads (30% new ) adds depth but not overt flavours. Would be great with food now or better still with 10 years in the cellar. 95pts – $35.

Amelia Park – Reserve – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2020. Gorgeous blueberry fruit on the nose. Depth, power, intensity. Superb fruit and structure, the oak acting as the frame on which the fruit is hung. Hints of spice and earthy notes round out a superb wine experience. An elegant wine with great length and persistence of flavours and a seamless finish. 100% Cabernet, 18 months in oak hogs-heads (40% new). 96pts – $70.

Amelia Park – Malbec – 2020. Wow, this has high impact fruit. Powerful, chewy, intense and tannic, with impressive depth and length. Chewy and impactful, this is great now but needs years to show its best. A beast. 94+pts – $50.

Amelia Park – Tempranillo – 2020. Savoury, earthy, textural and chewy, this shows excellent varietal typicity. There is bright fruit on the palate, but with a savoury kick. Tannins are well managed. The intense fruit is powerful and long. This just works. Fruit from the Swinney vineyards in Frankland. 93pts – $TBC.

Amelia Park – Shiraz – 2021. The ripe fruit here is succulent and supple, with silky texture and savoury highlights. This is all about the superb fruit quality, and the result is quite spectacular. Impressive depth and intensity, yet this is disarmingly approachable at this young age. 95pts – $35.

Amelia Park – Reserve – Shiraz – 2020. A sublime wine that combines brilliant fruit and deft winemaking. The fruit expresses a myriad of flavours spanning plum and berry, with savoury/spicy notes and even a hint of licorice. This is really one for extended cellaring, but it is hard to resist right now. The fruit for this wine comes from the Swinney 801 Block (the source of Swinney’s Farvie) and is hand-picked, open fermented, has 15% whole bunch and spent 18 months in oak. 96+pts – $70.