16 Oct 08 - Peter Forrestal rates Chardonnay and Verdelho "Bloody Good" in 2009 Quaff

The results of the 2009 edition of Quaff are in and Capel Vale wines have been rated highly by author and wine critic, Peter Forrestal. Our 2008 Debut Unwooded Chardonnay was rated "bloody good", one of only two unwooded chardonnays to recieve this honour. Our 2008 Debut Verdhelo, also rated as "bloody good", was the only WA wine in its category to achieve this rating. Exert of Capel Vale's results are below:

2008 Capel Vale Debut Unwooded Chardonnay $16.95
Rating: Bloody Good

They are talking about it as perhaps the best ever vintage in Western Australia, and looking at this wine, you could believe the claim. This is irresistible: lifted florals, ripe tropical fruit characters of passionfruit and guava, layer after layer of flavour moving towards a gentle crisp finish. Delicious.

2008 Capel Vale Debut Verdelho $16.95
Rating: Bloody Good

The Western Australian Verdelho style is different from that of the Hunter: the flavours tend to be more overtly fruity and the wines exuberant and less textured, relying on the burst of full throttle flavour. In the excellent 2008 vintage, Capel Vale provides an exemplary sample of what the West can do: It's ripe and gentle with intense sweet tropical fruits such as passionfruit and guava, fine and delicate and delicious easy drinking. Quaff on!

2007 Capel Vale Debut Merlot 2007 $16.95
Rating: Good

The previous vintage was sensational and this appears to be following in it's footsteps. I'm not certain it'll attain the same heights but it's early days now and the wine may develop further. It's soft, round and richly concentrated with dark plummy flavours, good weight and plenty of tannins.

2008 Capel Vale Debut Sauvignon Blanc Semillon $16.95
Rating: Pretty Good

While this lacks concentration of some of the Capel Vale whites, it's well made, soft, round and very easy to drink.

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