Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Winemaking and Drinking

Origins

There is something quietly bold about Woodlands in the Wilyabrup Valley. You almost sense its confidence before you cork the bottle. Founded by David and Heather Watson in the early 1970s, this winery sits at the heart of Margaret River’s rise to global wine renown. Their first vines were planted in 1973; over the decades they’ve nurtured soil, vines, and flavours, always paying close attention to terroir, balance, and that blend magic between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Wilyabrup Valley offers cooler maritime influence, gravelly loams, gentle slopes, and just enough warmth to ripen Cabernet without overripening—a sweet spot that Woodlands uses to its full advantage.

Tasting

The Wilyabrup Valley is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Malbec matured in French barrels for 14 months. In the glass it shows a deep garnet hue with subtle ruby edges. On the nose you’ll find blackcurrant and dark cherry character, with touches of cedar and tobacco leaf leather emerges if you let it breathe. Mint or eucalyptus whispers in the background, but always balanced by something earthier forest floor, clay, sometimes a faint graphite note. It smells of place. Taste brings structure: firm tannins you feel in your jaw, yet polished and never harsh. Flavours of dark plum and cassis, maybe a little blackberry, meld with savoury herbal hints sage or rosemary and spice from oak: vanilla, toffee, toast, perhaps faint chocolate. There is also acidity that gives freshness and keeps the wine lively rather than overly rich; the finish lingers, a little dusty, a little dry, both satisfying and teasing for another sip.

Accolades

A few accolades whisper in the wine’s past. Woodlands has long been acknowledged not just locally but in wider Australian wine circles. Their Cabernet Sauvignon component is part of plantings dating to their founding era, giving a pedigree to the wine that many producers can only chase. David and Heather Watson have been recognised for lifetime contributions to the Western Australian wine industry. Critical scores for various vintages of their blends, including this Cabernet Merlot style, often land in the high 90s depending on the critic and vintage. Their wines are included in fine wine classifications and regularly win medals in state and national shows. Woodlands is a name prized by collectors who value consistency, ageability, and terroir authenticity.

What makes this wine interesting is its dual appeal. For those who love structure it gives tannin, backbone, oak expression. For those who love fruit it gives ripe dark fruit shadows and a generous mid palate. For those who love ageing it offers potential the tannins and acid are there to carry it forward 5, 10, or more years depending on vintage. It also tells a story: of a family business rooted in place, of vines that have grown old enough to plant character into the wine, and of a region that, though young in wine history compared to Europe, has found its voice.

Pairing

Pair this with grilled lamb, slow roasted beef, aged cheeses, perhaps dishes with herbs like thyme and rosemary; it will hold its own. And while you might enjoy it now, the pleasure of cellaring some bottles and revisiting them years later is where this wine shows its full charm. Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is not ephemeral flash it’s integrity in glass.