Top 100 Reds

The pinot noir grape variety is well suited to the high-altitude and cool climate environment of the Porongurup subregion of the Great Southern. The Quin vineyard is on the northern slopes of the Porongurup range at approximately 300m above sea level. This established vineyard showcases a more delicately styled expression of pinot noir. It is grown on granitic gravel loam soils and benefits from a cool microclimate without much rainfall due to the rain shadow effect of the Porongurup Range.

The 2025 growing season was steady with modest rainfall. Mildly elevated temperatures led to a slightly earlier start to harvest. Pinot noir was the standout variety in 2025, benefitting from the early harvest date helping to preserve natural acidity whilst achieving optimum flavour.

The fruit was picked on 16 March 2025. A parcel was gently de-stemmed and pressed into a small open fermenter, with another parcel chilled overnight, then de-stemmed and gently pressed with some whole bunches added. After fermentation the wine went to French (Burgundian) oak barriques (approximately 30% new, the remainder one year old), and was matured for eleven months before it was prepared for bottling.

The malbec grape originates from France, the majority found in the Cahors region, a small town in the south-west. Because of the grapes’ thin skin, it is susceptible to poor weather and the pests of the region, and hasn’t surfaced as a top French variety. However, it is a common blending grape used in many of the great wines of Bordeaux. It has also found a home in Mendoza, Argentina where a French botanist planted it by order of the mayor in 1868. It is increasingly being celebrated as an Argentine varietal.

There are only very small plantings of malbec in the Great Southern, and it has proven very well suited to the climate and soils of the Frankland River subregion. This 2025 vintage fruit was picked and sorted on 27 March. It was cold soaked in small fermenters for two days before undergoing an extended and gentle maceration allowing for the softening of the tannins with the goal of creating a wine with structure and texture, along with the natural juicy flavour profile of malbec. Twenty five percent of the wine was matured in new Bordeaux oak barriques. The balance went to two- and three-year old Bordeaux barriques for nine months maturation before final preparation for bottling in December 2025.

Tempranillo originated in Spain and is the dominant variety used in wines from the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions. It is also a major blending grape used in the production of Port (Tinta Roriz in Portuguese).

Although not widely cultivated in Western Australia, tempranillo tends to thrive in cool climate sites, leading to tightly packed bunches that retain a balanced tannin structure and natural acidity during ripening. The result is a medium bodied, food friendly style.

The 2025 vintage fruit was picked in pristine conditions on 2 April. The grapes were crushed into a small fermenter upon arrival to the winery. The juice then underwent an extended and gentle maceration. Eighty percent of the wine was matured in single use French oak barriques for approximately eight months. The balance went to two-year old barriques for the same period, before the wine was blended and prepared for bottling.