MEGA DEAL - Plantagenet Three Lions Cabernet Merlot 2019 - Mt. Barker, Western Australia

92/100 Halliday Wine Companion, Campbell Mattinson (2017 Vintage)
90/100 The Real Review, Toni Paterson (2015 Vintage)
92/100 Halliday Wine Companion, Steven Creber (2014 Vintage)

Halliday Wine Companion "It puts in a good word for this blend. It boasts ripe curranty fruit, supple texture, no traces of bitterness and a satisfying finish. This blend at this price often gets lost; here's one that shouldn't." (Vintage 2017)

The Real Review "The medium-bodied palate is delicious, with high-energy red fruit. Modern in style with bright acidity and snappy, primary fruit." (Vintage 2015)

Halliday Wine Companion "....matured in French oak for 9 months. That all reads well, and the wine drinks well. Brambly, forest berry aromas take charge, with some cedary oak and Provencale herb characters in the background. Dense in flavour but not heavy, dark fruit runs through the palate with a measured tug of tannin pulling through the finish." (Vintage 2014)

Winery Notes "A deep maroon colouring. Ripe blackcurrant and spiced plum aromas, with some earthy leafy tones and floral violets on the nose. The palate is sweet red berried fruit characters dominating the medium-bodied palate. The silky Merlot component helps tone down the firmer Cabernet tannins, allowing for a smooth approachable style."

Western Australian winery, Plantaganent is acclaimed internationally for its consistently highly-awarded, quality wines produced from its five vineyards located in the cool climate region of the Great Southern. It is known for its highly aromatic riesling, tangy citrus-tinged chardonnay, exceptional Rhône-style shiraz and suberb cabernet sauvignon. The five estate vineyards are overseen by Chief Viticulturist Jordan Ellis whose philosophy is sustainability and remaining true to the terroir of the region.

The Real Review "Plantagent is a pioneer of the Great Southern region of Western Australia with vineyards first planted in 1986 and the first commercial winery established in the region. Celebrated for its rich heritage, the winery is owned the Lionel Samson family, the oldest family owned business in Western Australia established in Fremantle in 1829. Plantaganet has five vineyards in the Mount Barker sub region each with the unique characteristics, ancient soils and a cool maritime climate cretaing expressive wines of provenance, quality & prestige. "

James Halliday, Halliday Australian Wine Companion "Plantagenet has honed its flagship varieties into a distinct Great Southern wine style; a depth of lively flavour, seamless elegance and natural purity"

The Great Southern is emerging as a wine region of international significance and reputation. It is the largest wine growing region in Australia and is the second largest producer of grapes in Western Australia. It is a landscape of forested cliffs and resplendent mountain ranges, grazing pastures and towns steeped in history. The regional climate ranges from the coastal, maritime subregions of Albany and Denmark to the inland, continental subregions of Mount Barker, Porongurup and Frankland River. The predominant soils are similar to those of the Margaret River region - either lateritic gravelly sandy loams (marri country) or sandy loams deriving directly from granite and gneissic bedrocks. Near perfect conditions for grape growing has lured some of the most creative and talented winemakers to call this land their home and become part of its ancient story.

The region is known for committment to be sustainable, and organic, and is attracting some of Australia’s best winemakers. In 2023 the region dominated the Halliday Wine Companion Awards with its Top Rated 2023 Rieslings winning 10 of the top 40 awards. Other varietals from the region also received exceptional ratings of 97, 96 & 95 points.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot wines are made from two of the world's most famous and most widely grown wine grapes. The pair form the foundation of many of the great wines of Bordeaux, where this classic blend (often dubbed "Bordeaux Blend") is thought to have originated. For centuries, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have been the quintessential Bordeaux wine grapes, but their fame and popularity have now taken them far beyond the banks of the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde, to the furthest reaches of the wine world.

In California the blend is often labeled as Meritage – providing the producer meets the requirements of the Meritage Alliance. The Australian regions of Coonawarra, Margaret River and Yarra Valley are highly regarded for their unique expressions of the blend. A Bordeaux Blend is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely accepted as a compulsory component of any Bordeaux Blend along with Merlot. In fact, the majority of Bordeaux Blend wines are often made exclusively from a blend of these two varieties. The remaining components are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.