James Halliday Gives High Scores to Clairault.

5 Red Star James Halliday Rating = Outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity. Will have at least two wines rated at 94 points or above, and had a five-star rating for the previous two years. Top 4.9%.

Clairault Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015             
96/100 & * Special Value Star!

“Maximum return from high quality grapes, the region, and very good winemaking. The barrel ferment and Semillon inputs provide the framework for the melange of poached pear and yellow peach, lemony acidity running like a golden thread throughout. One of those wines causing you to regret having to spit out in tastings. Drink to 2020.”

Clairault Estate Chardonnay 2014    
96/100 & * Special Value Star!

“Both this and its ‘14 sibling come from estate vineyards and are made in a similar fashion, yet Clairault’s own notes use totally different descriptors for each. It’s not a question of volume, although I think that the significantly greater volume/intensity of this wine is the difference. Strange, but then that’s the everlasting fascination of wine. Drink to 2026.”

Clairault Margaret River Chardonnay 2014    
95/100 & * Special Value Star!

“A beautifully modulated chardonnay, all its facets in a harmonious, gravity-free space. While peach leads the stone fruit, grapefruit/citrus players; barrel fermentation has provided sotto voce notes of spice, grilled nuts and cream. Drink to 2025.”

Clairault Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
95/100

“Classic Margaret River style made from the original Clairault vines planted in ‘76; it is cabernet to its bootstraps with cassis/blackcurrant fruit on a pedestal of firm tannins that are unique to cabernet; cedary oak adds a further dimension. Drink to 2037.”

Clairault Cellar Release Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2013
95/100

“Interesting wine; you wander through a garden of berries of all kinds, finding them all delicately sweet, and matched by sufficient sous bois characters to provide structure and balance. Drink to 2028.”

Clairault Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2014      
94/100 & * Special Value Star!

“There’s a nuclear arsenal of black and redcurrant, cassis, wild herb, black olive and charred, tarry tannins in each bottle of this wine, so handle with care. A big rib eye steak to start, and someone to share the bottle. Drink to 2028.”

Clairault Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2014         
92/100 & * Special Value Star!

“Immediately dissociates itself from others at this price grown anywhere in WA. It has serious texture and structure, the flavours in a protective armour that preserves their black olive, wild herb, cassis and plum fruit marriage.

Read more on his site: http://www.winecompanion.com.au/