Willow Bridge Water Dancer Cabernet Merlot 2022 - Geographe, Western Australia

Gold - Berline Wine Trophy (2018 vintage)
Gold - Portugal Wine Trophy (2018 vintage)

5 Stars - James Halliday

‘Best Wineries of 2014’ - Halliday Australian Wine Companion
Perth Wine Show - Most Successful Western Australian Exhibitor (2020 vintage)

Winemaker “Aromatic blackberry fruit, anise, ripe black plums and bay leaf aromas. Vibrant Mulberry and blackberry fruits, intense flavour with silky long tannin balanced by fine french oak.” (2020 vintage)

The Australian Wine "The lovely 'Water Dancer' shows off their style. It has aromatic dark fruits of mulberry and black plum; the palate is juicy and plump, with delicious dark chocolate notes and a very light touch of fine French oak." (2017 vintage)

Halliday Australian Wine Companion "Many of its wines offer exceptional value for money."

The Australian Wine "(Australia's N# 1 Wine Critic James) Halliday listed Willow Bridge among his ‘Dark Horse Wineries of 2013’ and then his ‘Best Wineries of 2014’. The estate has also won Most Successful Western Australian Exhibitor at the Perth Wine Show three times!"

Halliday Australian Wine Companion "Willow Bridge Estate is family owned and operated by principals Jeff and Vicki Dewar, who bought the picturesque 180-hectare hillside property in 1996 after an exhaustive search of the state for the ideal vineyard site from which to realize their shared vision of producing world class wines which are both opulent and accessible. The estate is located in a hidden jewel of an area known as the Ferguson Valley (in Geograph Bay in Western Australia) which, at that time, was home to only a few small vineyards. Immediately planting 60 hectares of vines and then building a state of the art winery (the first winery in the area) in time for their first vintage in 2000, established Willow Bridge as the pioneering estate of the area and demonstrated the family’s confidence in the property and resolve to see their vision become reality."

Willow Bridge Estate continues to attract acclaim for the relatively newly established wine growing region of Geographe which is located adjacent to its more famous neighbour, Margaret River, in Western Australia. Wine critcs have heralded the winery for producing quality, good value wines. Winemaking is by veteran Western Australian winemaker, Kim Horton.

The Geographe wine growing region is located near the southern end of the Western Australia's Indian Ocean coast, between the emerging Peel region and famous Margaret River – with which its terroir shares several similarities. The best wines grown in this region include fruity Cabernet Sauvignon (often blended with Merlot), gamey Shiraz, rich, citrusy Chardonnay, and grassy 'SSB' blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The region's profile is increasing with several Geographe wineries winning national and international awards annually. At the heart of Western Australia's wine industry, the region supplies more than 10% of Western Australia's wine.

Cabernet Merlot is a red wine blend that brings forth the best characters of both the varietals used to craft it. The Cabernet Sauvignon renders rich tannins, nice acidity and a great texture to this wine while the plump Merlot brings in juicy fruit flavours. A typical Cabernet Merlot wine is medium-bodied and displays aromas of black fruits and cassis backed with hints of either cedar or vanilla depending on oak maturation technique used. Cabernet Merlot is best enjoyed with food like sautéed shiitake mushrooms, beef roast, venison rump, lamb chops and grilled steak.