96/100 James Halliday
Australian Wine Companion 5 Star Winery

Australian Wine Companion - Best Margaret River Wineries of the Regions 2020

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot

James Halliday "ultra-premium wines"

Australian Wine Companion "taste the best that Margaret River has to offer."

The Winemaker: An unambiguously classy wine, its quality established by the first whiff, and confirmed by the super– elegant, medium – bodied palate. All the cabernet cassis/blackcurrant you could wish for floats along the mouth with the other members of the Bordeaux family in respectful support...... The velvety palate is elegant, well structured and medium-bodied with blackcurrant, mulberry and cassis seamlessly woven with French oak and supple tannins that linger on the finish.”

Since the release of Chapman Grove and the winery's premium Atticus range in 2006, Chapman Grove wines have been awarded 4 Trophies, 3 Top Gold, 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 39 Bronze Medals.

James Halliday "A very successful venture under the control of CEO Ron Fraser. The wines come from the estate vineyards planted to chardonnay, Semillon, sauvignon blanc, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.....[The winery's] ultra-premium wines are under the Atticus label."

Atticus is owned by Chapman Grove Wines; a small winery focussed on making limited edition fine wines from Margaret River, Western Australia. Described by Australia's N#1 wine critic, James Halliday as "a very successful venture", the winery is known for its highly rated wines and was established in 2005 by an esteemed veteran of the industry, Ron Fraser. Pop Up Wine has secured back vintages of a collection of its highly rated wines.

Atticus utilises exceptional fruit which is all 100% estate grown to create its world-class wines. Its range includes varieties most suited to the Margaret River climate, with French oak used to bring out flavours of the terroir, creating a true expression of the region.

The winery achieved the highly coveted 5 Red Star rating from James Halliday within three short years of first entering the Wine Companion in 2009. Since the the estate's first release in 2006, its wines have been awarded 4 Trophies, 3 Top Gold, 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 39 Bronze medals.

Margaret River is a highly respected wine region in the southwestern corner of Western Australia. Famous for having a more "European" wine style than its counterparts across the country, Margaret River has made its name through its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon (often blended with Merlot), gamey Shiraz, intensely citrusy Chardonnay, and refreshingly grassy "SSB'" blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Margaret River's winemakers are particularly proud of its temperate, coastal location – which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.

The French Bordeaux-style blend — a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot — is loved the world over and is now being made by winemakers globally. Atticus's Grand Reserve Cabernet is a similar blend using three cabernets: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Merlot, and Cabernet Franc with Petit Verdot. This blend has created a wine celebrated for its bold intensity and elegance.