Deep garnet-purple, the 2008 “Margaret” Reserve Cabernet Merlot has subdued notes of ripe red currant, black cherries and plums with nuances of black currant, baking spices and tree bark. Medium bodied, it has just enough muscular fruit, medium-high acid and a medium level of chewy tannins, finishing long and earthy. Amongst the first wave of vineyards in Margaret River, David Watson established Woodlands in 1973 making it the fourth oldest vineyard in the region today. Sons Andrew and Stuart Watson are on board now making the wines. The estate remains firmly in the boutique category, producing small quantities of high quality wines that sit amongst the best in the area. No pesticides or herbicides are used here and from grape to bottle everything is for the most part natural and hands-on. The 2007 and 2008 reds are both looking very special, if very different, adeptly expressing the marked variations between the vintages. Andrew informed me, “2007 was a hotter year, but 2008 was drier. 2008 produced our lowest crop ever at Woodlands. Woodlands winery does not have a USA importer but exports to the UK, HK, Japan, Korea, SE Asia and Denmark.