Moss Wood 2022 Chardonnay – Ned Goodwin, jamessuckling.com

This is a large-framed chardonnay, trying its best to burst from a mid-weighted corset of tension. The oak is lustrous, while the creamy core is generous, indelibly stamped with nougatine and toasted nuts, as one would expect from a more bumptious expression. Yet the tension remains. The belt of cedar across the mid-palate screams the need to cellar. For the mid-term. Aromas of green fig, yellow plum, cantaloupe and oatmeal, all attractive. I look forward to tasting this in eight years time. Drinkable now, but best from 2028. Screw cap.

December, 2023

 

94 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood 2023 Semillon – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

An atmospheric image of Moss Wood 2023 Semillon bottle laying on a table.

Gee, they’ve turned out an excellent Semillon in 2023. No oak employed here.

Ripe green apple, quince, lime leaf, citrus blossom, a little spice and jalapeño. It’s flavoursome, but balanced, with a fine grip, green melon and citrus, arrowroot biscuits, and a bright and long finish offering lime zest and some exotic tropical fruits, maybe yellow kiwi fruit or something like that. It’s a delight, and sure, a bolder expression of Semillon, but with excellent balance and intensity of fruit. I think one of the best releases of this wine for some time.

September, 2023

 

94 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood 2023 Semillon – Andrew Caillard, Wine Pilot.com – The Vintage Journal

An atmospheric image of Moss Wood 2023 Semillon bottle laying on a table.

Pale colour. Lifted grassy, lemon curd hint marzipan aromas with hints of aniseed. Attractive lemon curd, tropical fruit marzipan flavours, fine chalky textures, impressive mid-palate volume and well balanced linear fresh acidity. Generous and richly flavoured wine with lovely fruit definition and impact. Delicious to drink now but should keep for a while Drink now – 2028.

September, 2023

 

94 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood 2022 Chardonnay – Andrew Caillard, Wine Pilot.com – The Vintage Journal

Medium pale colour. Beautiful grapefruit, melon aromas with marzipan vanilla notes. Generous and creamy with ripe yellow fruits, melon, white apricot flavours, fine supple textures, superb marzipan vanilla oak notes and fresh long indelible acidity. Lovely viscosity and mineral length; the oak in perfect symmetry to the fruit. A lovely vintage. Drink now -2028

September, 2023

 

97 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.com

The classic red variety from Margaret River, this wine is a deep, shining red. The nose is blackberries, delicatessen meats, spices, tobacco leaves and an ever-so-slight oaky note, but it is well integrated and merely adds to the complexity evident here. Attractive dark cherry touches. Fine tannins, a hint gravelly. There is balance and texture here and great length. The palate sees the emergence of more cassis notes and cigar box characters. This is a classy Margaret River Cabernet with ten to fifteen years.

November, 2023

 

95 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2021 Merlot – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.com

Aussie Merlot has rarely hit the heights that many once hoped, but there have certainly been some very fine examples and Moss Wood’s has always been among them.

A deep garnet hue, the nose gives appealing plum pudding and rich fruitcake notes. A hint of chocolate and dried fruit characters. Spices and a touch of rose water. This is balanced, seamless and with fresh acidity. Fine tannins and good grip. This has some impressive length and a lingering finish. There is room for improvement, but enjoy it any time over the next six to eight years.

November, 2023

 

 

93 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.com

Always a controversial wine, one wonders whether detractors base their dislike simply on a once-prevailing view that Western Australia cannot or should not make Pinot Noir. These days, we have more than enough evidence that good Pinot can most certainly come from the West. Others simply like the wine because it is attractive and enjoyable drinking. The fruit went into small, open fermenters with 8% whole bunches. A controlled ferment and then 17 days on skins. Into French oak for more than a year, 17% new.

Bright crimson in colour, the nose offers spices, animal fur, truffles, red cherries, a little briary note, undergrowth and dry herbs. Lots of flavour on the palate, which really lifts. Good acidity runs the length. This is a seamless style with very good length, the intensity maintained for the full journey. Soft tannins and a lingering finish. This is one of the better Moss Wood Pinots for some time. Now for six years. 

November, 2023

 

92 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood 2022 Chardonnay – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.com

A vintage of contrasts but certainly yet another of the seemingly endless procession of superb years in Margaret River. The juice was clarified in stainless steel, seeded with an array of yeasts for a controlled ferment. Racking to oak, 228-litre French oak, 54% of which was new. Full malo, blending of all components and then back to oak for 16 months. Margaret River Chardonnay has firmly established itself as one of the great styles of Australian wines and this is simply yet more evidence.

Pale yellow gold hue, the nose offers florals, figs, citrus, a hint of pear and a touch of honey. Peaches and an early note of nougat. There is quality oak, giving the character of grilled cashews, but the integration proceeds apace. It seems to me that this vintage of the MW Chardonnay is a little more elegant than is usual. A really impressive, refined wine, exhibiting early complexity. There is a fine line of acidity with excellent length. Balance and an appealing texture. There is room to improve further over the next six to eight years. 

November, 2023

 

94 Points

Rating: Stars
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Moss Wood 2023 Semillon – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.com

An atmospheric image of Moss Wood 2023 Semillon bottle laying on a table.

Always one of the most exciting West Aussie Semillons and this release is no different. The vintage notes from the team at Moss Wood rave about 2023. Cynics amongst might suggest that these guys really wouldn’t know a poor vintage if they ever had the misfortune to encounter one. It seems that Margaret River is destined to have great vintages, year after year, but I guess there are degrees of great. The fruit comes from a 50-year-old dry farmed vineyard. It is whole bunched pressed and fermented in stainless steel. The wine sees no oak.

A very pale gold. The nose is refined, elegant and restrained. This is fresh with notes of lemons, dry herbs, pears and a hint of honey. There is alluring texture, soft and seductive, and the wine is clean and with serious length. Bright acidity. Nothing like the fine Sems we see from the Hunter, but utterly delicious, nonetheless. Enjoy over the next six to ten years. 

November, 2023

 

 

93 Points

Rating: Stars
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