Region: Margaret River, WA
Winemaker: Mark Warren

In 2007 I travelled to Margaret River and talked to many winemakers, visited many wineries including several contract production facilities. After several wine experiments we found the winery facility we liked at the Happs Winery in the Central to Northern Margret River. The winemaker Mark Warren has proved to be inspiring and makes the fresh, very clean styles with fine fruit characters which we want the Glug business to be noted for.

The fruit source of this Cape Geographe Signature Mark Warren Margaret River red is as follows; 37% Cabernet from Jindong (a Margaret River subregion in the north east corner) all oak matured in seasoned wood; 15% Cabernet from Happs Karridale (southern Margaret River) vineyard all oak matured in quality French oak; 18% Merlot from Palmers Wilyabrup vineyard (prime Central Margret River) all oak matured in seasoned wood; 14% Malbec from Happs Karridale (southern Margaret River) vineyard all oak matured in quality French oak and 16% Merlot from Happs Karridale (southern Margaret River) vineyard unoaked.

The wine is a lovely balance of warmer vineyard fruit (Jindong) with tighter southern vineyard fruit (Karridale). Remember that a few kilometres south of Karridale it is very hard to ripen red varieties so this vineyard region is right at the limit of the Margaret River maritime climate. Most of these components were approved by me though the final composition was left to Mark Warren.

The key to making this wine a success are the two merlot components with the wine from Palmers being of the highest quality possible to get from Margaret River. I have a particular fondness for malbec and often add this to blends.

A genuine, great bargain which can be happily placed in any masked tasting.