James Halliday Review

The Weekend Australian
14 February 2009

Fraser Gallop Estate 2007 Cabernet Merlot

Nigel Gallop, with some encouragement from his distributor Domaine Wine Shippers, has decided to keep the price of his wines well below the average for Margaret River.
The 2007 Fraser Gallop Estate Cabernet Merlot (94 points, and one of two contenders from Fraser Gallop, the other a Cabernet Sauvignon, for last year's Jimmy Watson Trophy) is only $20.00 (less by the case from the cellar door). It has good depth and clarity to its colour and is driven by its almost succulent cabernet component (92 per cent); seductive blackcurrant flavours are framed by quality French oak and fine tannins. Given its screwcap closure and 14.5 per alcohol, it should have a minimum 20 year life but most will happily be consumed well before that.