Reviews Archives - Moss Wood

Moss Wood 2023 Amy’s – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

Very much Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (83%), the wine also enjoys contributions from Merlot (5%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (6%). After fermentation and blending, the wine was returned to the 228-litre French oak barrels, none of them new, for maturation for a year and a half. A purple/maroon colour here, we have a nose exhibiting some of those classic Cab notes with black fruits, truffles, black cherries, cedar, cigar boxes and tobacco leaves, beef stock and graphite. There is deftly handled oak, silky tannins, excellent balance and length. This is a superb Cabernet blend and should drink beautifully for at least the next ten to twelve years. The team talk about it being approachable young and it certainly is, but I also think it has a long future – it simply has such fine balance and so much going on that it can’t miss. This is a stellar Amy’s.

94 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2024 Semillon – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

This vintage reminded the family of 1994/1995, though one suspects much has changed in the meantime. The fruit was whole bunch pressed to stainless steel for fermentation, before bottling. The colour here is a shining pale lemon. This is a slightly grassy style, as Margaret River Sem can sometimes be. There are also pleasing notes of lemon curds, citrus, hints of stone fruit and lemongrass and a whiff of honeycomb. Well structured with good focus and energy, this has drive and is of medium length. A wine for enjoying any time over the next six to eight years, although the track record of these wines suggests that they will provide pleasure for many years beyond that. And continue to evolve. If one may digress, for the wine nerds among us who like to soak up every possible detail, winery websites vary enormously from utterly useless to excellent. I have never encountered one better than Moss Wood. If there is something you want to know and it is not on their site, I could not imagine what it could be.

92 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2023 Chardonnay – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

Amazing to think that Moss Wood’s oldest Chardonnay vines are now 48 years of age. Fermentation for this cracking Chardonnay was finished in 228-litre French oak barriques. The wine was then blended in tank and returned to barrel, with 49% new, for the next year and a half. The colour here is a deep but attractive lemon gold. This is a superb Margaret River Chardonnay. Complexity is already evident, as are notes of stone fruits, cashews, oatmeal, ginger, lemongrass, peaches and immaculate oak handling. The supple, creamy, cushiony texture is an absolute highlight. A wine of fine balance and serious length, this has at least a decade of providing pleasure ahead of it. A stunner.

96 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

A wine which is near completely Cabernet Sauvignon here, with 90% of the blend that variety, the remaining 10% is split evenly between Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. A wine which provides more compelling evidence as to how good the 2022 vintage was. Maturation was in 228-litre French barrels, 19% new, for 26 months. A deep maroon hue here, the nose is all Cabernet and friends – dried herbs, black fruits, truffles, cassis, blackcurrants, violets, graphite, beef stock and tobacco leaves. A seamless and seductive texture, with impressive length and immaculate balance, the wine finishes with firm but sleek tannins – a fine line to walk but they have managed it here with freshness and drive. Ten years, more likely twenty, will see this wine continue to improve. A superb Marg River Cab blend.

94 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

Moss Wood Pinot Noir bottle image with atmospheric background.

20% of the fruit went into fermentation as whole bunches, adding in the search for texture and complexity. Maturation was for a year and a half in French oak barrels, 18% new. A pale crimson hue, the nose exhibits a slightly savoury/near rustic style with red fruits, warm earth, aniseed, undergrowth, mushrooms, raspberries and cherries. The savouriness might prove divisive – some love that style but others not so much. If you do, this will be a Pinot for you. Well balanced with good focus and medium length, the finish is completed by appealingly silky tannins. A very fine West Aussie Pinot which will drink very well over the next five to eight years.

93 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2022 Merlot – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

I suspect this wine holds a Moss Wood record for the shortest vintage weather report they have ever issued – “Mother Nature was in a very benign frame of mind”. Of course, they didn’t leave it at that, but it is a great start. In addition to the Merlot, 7% of Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% of Cabernet Franc were also included. The wine spent 26 months maturing in 228-litre French barrels, 21% of them new. A deep red/garnet hue, this is still very youthful and if opened in the next couple of years, would very much benefit from a decant, or time in the glass. The nose gives us notes of dried herbs and fruitcake, with plums, black fruits, chocolate, bay leaves and spices. There is plenty of power here, a good forceful style with firm tannins and a lengthy finish. Enjoy for at least the next five to eight years, most likely considerably longer.

93 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2022 Merlot – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

This serious Merlot from 2022 is again putting Moss Wood forward as one of the country’s top performers with this variety. It opens with a powerful and tightly focussed core of blackberry and cedar with touches of crushed leaves, and a strong savoury feel. Impressive intensity and fruit drive takes it up a notch, with bright acidity and muscular tannins holding firm. Impeccable and significant tannins with a supremely long finish mark this as one of the greats.

95 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2023 Amy’s – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

The 2023 Amy’s blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot is highly approachable at this young age with enveloping aromas of blackcurrant and gravel with a strong dark earth component. Excellent upfront impact with a seamless core of dark berry fruits, primed with acidity and underpinned by fine, pliable tannins. A firm drying finish supports good longevity.

92 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2024 Semillon – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

A more generously proportioned Moss Wood Semillon with ample nectarine and melon fruit with strong nut kernel accents. Quite textural with creamy acidity that sits well within the overall package, with some more crushed nutty tones to finish. Ready to enjoy now.

91 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2023 Chardonnay – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

A more refined edition of Moss Wood Chardonnay bursting with sherbet, melon, and citrus tones that are powerful, taut and well integrated with toasty French oak. Bone dry and embryonic, it is highly reserved with a chalky texture while just starting to build nutty, peanut brittle tones. Super young and tightly wound, this is a standout Moss Wood Chardonnay.

93 Points

Rating: Stars