Reviews Archives - Moss Wood

Moss Wood 2023 Pinot Noir – Andrew Caillard, Wine Pilot.com – The Vintage Journal

If ever the team at Moss Wood were going to craft a Pinot Noir to convince the doubters of what can be achieved with this variety in Margaret River, then surely the brilliant 2023 vintage would be the one to do it. This is their 45th consecutive release of their Pinot. Good luck finding many wineries from the more highly regarded regions in the country which can match that. The vines were originally planted in 1973, and they have actually made 46 vintages, but an early one was ravaged by birds. Maturation was for a year and a half in French oak barriques, 18% of which were new. Fermentation saw the use of 20% whole bunches. Crimson/cherry red in colour, this is a silky style. The great vintage comes through, and the quality is evident from the beginning. The nose gives us notes of red cherries, tobacco leaves, dried herbs, leaf litter and even a touch of blueberries. There is balance, focus and very good length through to satiny tannins. It will drink well for the next eight to ten years.

Drink 2028–2035

94 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2024 Pinot Noir – Marc Malouf, Wine Worth Writing About

Gem-like ruby with a gently lifted, herbaceous and floral nose of sweet strawberries (and their tops), raspberry licorice, maraschino cherry, pink rose, black tea, a touch of sorrel, cinnamon and vanilla-led spice. In the mouth is medium bodied, yet fruit forward and echoes the nose with vibrant red fruits, cherries, fig and nectarine that are gripped with drying, bunchy tannins and powered by energetic acidity. Biased towards the front palate, its crescendos in the first few seconds, holds, then really dries up and shows the scaffolding for longevity. Top notes of clove and nutmeg, as well as a faintly savoury seam teases complexity over a tail that fades wit tart plum skins, stem and whisper of button mushrooms. Tight and tense in its youth, so be sure to give it a long decant to soften and seduce.

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2025 Chardonnay – Marc Malouf, Wine Worth Writing About

Medium gold in the glass, with cyan reflections, and a heady nose that’s bursting with fruit and spice! Ocean spray, boiled lemon, white pineapple, nectarine and honeydew are kissed with brûléed vanilla-led spice, dried ginger, toasted cashews and almond butter.

In the mouth it’s a wine of generosity and poise, with vanilla custard, brûléed oak spice, juicy citrus and ripe, sweet stone fruit flavours that echo the nose dressed in a corset of fine tannins and charged with mineral-edged acidity. I love the energy in this release and find the depth and concentration of its components quite exciting! Though bold, it’s been meticulously balanced and it moves across its arc with elegance and clarity, ending on a long and even tail that’s just beginning to unfurl. A beautiful release!

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2025 Chardonnay – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

To paraphrase a former Prime Minister, life is not meant to be fair. Otherwise, why would Margaret River have yet another compelling vintage of such quality, following on from the stellar 2023, although to be honest, it has been a very long time since the region had a vintage that wasn’t exceptional. If there is a complaint about 2025, it is that it is perhaps not as generous with its yields as the region often is. Anyway, what we have here is a Chardonnay of the very highest quality. Such a thing is not uncommon in the region, but that does not make it any less welcome and anyone with a case of this in the cellar is going to drink very well over the next dozen years. The grapes were whole bunch pressed and then, during fermentation, transferred to French oak barriques, 48% of which were new. The wine remained maturing in those barrels for the following year and a half.

Straw gold, this is youthful but intense with notes of quince, rockmelon, grapefruit, lemon curd, peaches, almonds, oatmeal and even a hint of gunflint. Supple, luscious and quite gorgeously textured, the wine has amazing length. It might seem impossible, but it lifts even further on the palate. A stunning Margaret River Chardonnay which will continue to astonish over the next decade. Love this.

October, 2026

96 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2024 Pinot Noir – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

Always a fascinating wine. Purists will scream that Margaret River simply can’t do Pinot Noir, even though these guys have been making a fairly decent one for more than fifty years. Sometimes one has to wonder whether the naysayers simply aren’t going to allow Margaret River to have yet another variety that they do so well. The team used 30% whole bunches in the fermentation. The wine then spent a year and a half in French oak barriques for maturation, with 17% of them new.

Palle purple/crimson in colour, the aromatics here really do stand out. We have notes of plums, cherries, cranberries, a touch of leaf litter, dried herbs and hint of milk chocolate. Bright acidity runs the length and there is a sleek texture through to very fine grained tannins, before a lingering finish. This is quite delicious and will drink impressively over the next five to eight years, during which time there is no reason to expect that it won’t improve further.

October, 2026

93 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2025 Amy’s – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

A classic Bordeaux Blend style from Margaret River, the wine is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. It is worth mentioning that if you really want to get your full wine geek on, no other winery in the country provides as much and as intricate detail about their wines as these guys do. Definitely worth checking out their website (you doubt me? You want to know the Baume of each of those varieties and the date on which they were each harvested, it is all there). Maturation was in French oak barriques, none of them new.

Deep magenta with a plum rim, this is a really exciting wine and helps to confirm the reports of 2025 being something very special. Whilst one should be happy with what is to hand and not playing the ‘grass is greener’ card, if this wine is this good then Moss Wood’s Cabernet from the same vintage might be yet another tour de force. The nose here gives us aromas of chocolate, cassis, leather, truffles, tobacco leaves, aniseed and plums. The structure is seamless with immaculate balance and the wine is well focused with excellent length. It finishes with silky tannins. Still youthful and fresh, it surely has at least another dozen years ahead of it. And what incredible value.

October, 2026

95 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2026 Amy’s Cuvee Blanc – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

A Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend from Margaret River, I have seen this described as one of the simpler wines in the MW portfolio. I think that might be doing it a disservice. Divisive yes, simple no (and I would suggest that there is nothing wrong with divisive – at the very least, we can expect the wine to be interesting). The blend is 79% Semillon and 21% Sauvignon Blanc with partial fermentation in French oak barriques, after which the wine was given a further three months maturation therein. Unless you are paying a fortune for the absolute best from Graves in Bordeaux, most of this style of wine tends to be early drinking. This one will certainly not only last the distance but should improve over at least the next five to eight years and probably longer.

The colour is a deep but shining straw. The nose offers an array of aromas which seem to run the full spectrum. There are hints of pineapple, dried herbs, nettles, passionfruit, citrus and blackcurrant leaves. Even a flick of vanilla. Did I mention divisive? Quite intense, there is power here with focus and serious length. It is definitely one of the very best of this style made in the country.

October, 2026

93 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2024 Pinot Noir – Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog

Strawberries and cream, raspberry and cherry, are some of the fruit notes. Well behaved tannins add texture in a medium bodied wine with a bright lifted finish. Moss Wood’s dry grown Pinot vines are over 50 years old and that pedigree contributes to the intensity and depth in the glass. The wine has seen 30% whole bunch for spice & complexity and 18 months in 20% new oak.

As I’ve noted about Moss Wood’s previous Pinot releases, the 2024 would perform strongly in a blind test line up from the classic Pinot regions of Australia and New Zealand!

October, 2026

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2025 Amy’s – Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog

Amy’s 2025 is an accomplished and charming Cabernet blend. There’s a lovely dollop of red, black and blue fruit on the front palate, followed quickly by freshness and a touch of leather / cigar to finish. Drinks very well right now on release with fruit appeal but this also has complexity and savoury spice notes. 81% Cabernet, 8% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot.

It has the concentration and density to age for 7+ years. Will get impressive nods at any dinner party, it is outstanding value given the quality.

October, 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Moss Wood 2026 Amy’s Cuvee Blanc – Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog

Moss Wood Amy’s 2026 Cuvée Blanc is a full-bodied white wine with peach, nectarine and nettle flavours. It’s Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc in a 80:20 blend.

It stands out from other SSB’s in it’s palate weight and texture. This is because of a riper pick, malo fermentation and some oak ageing. It balances brightness and fruit weight well. Moss Wood recommend ageing for up to 5 years.

October, 2026

Rating: 4 Stars