Description

“The sheer quality of the wines he makes is equalled only by his consistency” James Halliday.

When I met winemaker Bruce Dukes from Domaine Naturaliste I was bowled over by how striking every wine was that I tasted in his lineup … A rare occurrence when you’re tasting wines every day. The success did not happen by accident. He has an intimate knowledge of all the terroirs of Margaret River after spending 25 years honing his craft with leading Margaret River producers such as Pierro wines. He is a trained agronomist and has a Masters in viticulture and Oenology from U.C. Davis … he also worked for 4 years at Neibaum Coppola in Napa, USA. Bruce seeks freshness of fruit, perfume, texture, overall balance, restraint with low to moderate alcohol in all his beautiful wines. Domaine Naturaliste is named after the northern most Cape of Margaret River, Cape Naturaliste, where the winery is situated. Minuscule production of top shelf wines across the board.

The Flagship series is Bruce Dukes’ finest expression of the iconic Margaret River varietals. “Flagship is our passion and inspiration, the reason we make wine.” From terroir and fruit selection, to palate and aroma, Bruce Dukes expertly balances these variables, resulting in wines that are complex and ultimately delicious.

About this wine from the winemaker “Our finest cuvee of Cabernet Sauvignon from the heart of Margaret River. The gravelly soils of the vineyard are flanked by the dominant native hard wood trees named Jarrah. Jarrah trees have become a favourable and exact biological indicator that the site is ideally matched to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Fruit expression from this site includes violets, cassis and mulberry. Indeed, mulberry is a very attractive fruit character which is a unique part of the terroir expression of Margaret River Cabernet and our local heritage clone. This cuvee is named to reflect this unique mulberry character; Morus australis being the genus and species name for the mulberry tree.

“The fruit was harvested based on achieving a balance of tannin and flavour ripeness while maintaining fruit freshness. 55% new barrels until the wine has achieved its own harmony, which was 14 months. The barriques are primarily from forests in the Center of France, Troncais and a touch of Bertrange. The wine then enjoys another year in bottle before release.”

98 points, Ray Jordan “This was a good year in Margaret River, delivering fruit of tremendous intensity and good structure. In this case, it’s been captured in this superb cabernet sauvignon that demonstrates the awesome power of the region, but with finesse, refinement, and a real polish on the finish. Black fruits, bay leaf, and graphite on the nose. A palate that shows almost a sweet fruit middle, but then the structure wraps around it and carries it forward with tremendous intensity. Totally seamless and integrated, with a sustained lingering finish.”

96 points, James Suckling “Concentrated, refined aromas of blackcurrants, plum skin, bay leaves, cocoa and pencil shavings. The palate is full-bodied and layered with firm yet polished tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of dark cherries, mulberries, cedar, graphite and cloves. Powerful and composed with impressive length and no hard edges.”

RRP $107 **Our Special Price only $83.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**