Reviews Archives - Moss Wood

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2024 Elsa – Wine Pilot, Ken Gargett

The team at Moss Wood have said that the 2024 vintage reminds them of the great year of 1995. Yields were down but of high quality and everything augurs well for when we see the rest of this vintage released. During fermentation, the grapes were moved to 225-litre French oak barrels, 10% of which were new. Interestingly, there is no mention of Sauvignon Blanc on the label – those expecting the typical bright and breezy, simple style of Savvy would be in for a shock, so perhaps that is wise. This is very much in the more complex and worked style of Savvy. Deep straw in colour, there are notes of lemon curd, florals, stone fruits, citrus, peaches, even a flick of beeswax and mango. The wine has focus, balance and very good length, with the intensity never wavering at any stage throughout the journey. There is a line of fine acidity, which provides a degree of freshness. It should age as well as any Sauvignon Blanc made in this country, certainly at least the next six to eight years. Seriously good.

94 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2024 Elsa – Wine Pilot, Cassandra Charlick

Pillowy and nougatine on the nose, with marzipan and vanilla bean laced apricot, custard apple, feijoa and pear skin. Tropical honeydew melon follows with a tint of lemongrass and baked hay. Plenty of fruit sweetness and buttery malolactic notes on the palate, which balances Sauvignon’s bright acidity nicely. Vanilla brioche, silken poached pear and an opulent, creamy mouth-filling silkiness, finishing with a crunched dried herb note. The oak tannins are prevalent on the palate; this would fare well with food and will age nicely. There’s so much joy here, in a Rococo fashion.

Drink now to 2035+

94 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal

Medium deep crimson. Attractive cassis, truffle, vanilla aromas with hints of mocha/ cedar. Inky deep with fresh blackcurrant vanilla, espresso flavours, fine grainy tannins and well-integrated vanilla/ marzipan notes. Finishes chalky and long with chinotto and aniseed notes. A classic Moss Wood vintage with lovely richness, definition and mineral length. Should last the distance. A lovely 50th anniversary wine. 94% cabernet sauvignon 4% cabernet franc 2% petit verdot. Drink 2028 – 2035 14% alc

97 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2024 Chardonnay – Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal

Pale colour. Intense lemon curd, grapefruit, tropical fruit aromas with ginger/ hint vanilla notes. Generous and creamy with ample lemon glacé, grapefruit, rock melon flavours, fine slinky touch grippy textures, marvellous viscosity and underlying roasted almond, vanilla notes. Finishes bittersweet and minerally. Lovely regional presence and vinosity. Brilliant wine. Drink now – 2030 14% alc

96 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2024 Elsa – Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal

Pale colour. Fresh grapefruit, lemon curd, tonic aromas with hints of marzipan/ grilled nuts. Well-concentrated with ample grapefruit, lemon pastille fruits, underlying tonic water notes, fine bittersweet textures and fresh indelible acidity. Refreshingly minerally at the finish. Drink now – 2032 14% alc

95 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2024 Chardonnay – Ken Gargett, The Wine Pilot

Ripening took place over a slightly shorter period than this region usually sees. Yields were down but quality was up. This is the fourth vintage of the Ribbon Vale Chardy and it has established itself as a fine addition to the range. The wine saw nine months maturation in French oak barriques, 47% of which was new.

A deep gold colour here, this is big, bold and rich. A Chardy chockers with flavour. What is exciting is that we are already seeing the early emergence of complexity. The nose exhibits notes of white peaches, citrus, a hint of the tropicals, hazelnuts, ginger, lemongrass, spices and very good oak integration. There is a creamy texture with juicy acidity and superb length. This has at least six to eight years of providing pleasure ahead of it and it will certainly improve further over that period, although the team see it as ageing for a number of years more than that

94 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2024 Elsa – Ken Gargett, The Wine Pilot

The team at Moss Wood have said that the 2024 vintage reminds them of the great year of 1995. Yields were down but of high quality and everything augurs well for when we see the rest of this vintage released. During fermentation, the grapes were moved to 225-litre French oak barrels, 10% of which were new. Interestingly, there is no mention of Sauvignon Blanc on the label – those expecting the typical bright and breezy, simple style of Savvy would be in for a shock, so perhaps that is wise. This is very much in the more complex and worked style of Savvy.

Deep straw in colour, there are notes of lemon curd, florals, stonefruits, citrus, peaches, even a flick of beeswax and mango. The wine has focus, balance and very good length, with the intensity never wavering at any stage throughout the journey. There is a line of fine acidity, which provides a degree of freshness. It should age as well as any Sauvignon Blanc made in this country, certainly at least the next six to eight years. Seriously good.

94 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ken Gargett, The Wine Pilot

This stunning Margaret River Cabernet has 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot included. The team talk of some of the difficulties encountered by Margaret River wineries during this year, but everything is relative and a difficult vintage here seems to be the dream of many other regions. It was a year that finished extremely well, though, with a longer than average ripening period. Yields were down but in the end, some stellar fruit was harvested. Maturation was in French oak, 16% new, for around seventeen months.

A deep maroon hue, there are notes of spices, herbs, black fruits, cloves, cassis, graphite, chocolate and tobacco leaves. A touch of biscuity oak, very well integrated, this is a wine of focus and intensity, and at all times it is immaculately balanced. Utterly seamless and seductive, there is a line of fine acidity running the full journey and the silkiest of tannins on the finish. This will easily sail through the next fifteen to twenty years, providing immense pleasure along the way. A superb Cabernet.

98 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon – Ray Jordan Wine

This was a very good vintage in Margaret River after the slightly more challenging ’21. This has the refined elegance and prettiness that is the Moss Wood DNA. The colour is quite pale compared to some previous vintages, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is some shrinking violet. Violets, yes, but plenty more in an engine room that is balanced and poised as the tannins and almost lyrically laid oak harness the exquisitely bright fruit. So well balanced. A wine of immense charm and appeal. I defy you to stop after the first sip.

98 Points

Rating: Stars

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2024 Chardonnay -Ray Jordan Wine

The warmer vintage is certainly reflected immediately in the bright golden colour. This is a rich and textured chardonnay from the Ribbon Vale vineyard. Honeycomb and light cereal characters emerge on the nose and palate. There’s an underlying savouriness that sustains through to the very long finish. Beautifully balanced with a crisp acidity controlling the finish. The higher altitude vineyard contributes to more of the lively citrus, white peach, and grapefruit nuances.

94 Points

Rating: Stars