A new Margaret River icon – Voyager Estate MJW Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Voyager Estate is placed in the Wallcliffe sub-region of Margaret River which has generally seemed better suited to white wines. However the recent warmer vintages have seen the inexorable rise of its greatest Cabernet Sauvignons into Margaret River royalty – recent vintages from Flametree, Leeuwin Estate and Voyager Estate paving the way.

Wallcliffe Cabernet Sauvignons are very different from their northerly cousins – the savoury, gravel and dried herb aromatics of Margaret River being more pronounced with a sinewy tannin structure and greater freshness of acidity. These wines are perhaps not as well suited to youthful drinking but have the power and structure to age well and reward time in the cellar. 

It is no coincidence that the rise in the fortunes of Wallcliffe have been mirrored by similar fortunes at Voyager Estate – which was purchased by teetotaller and mining magnate Michael Wright in 1991. After purchasing the property Wright set about leaving no stone unturned to transform Voyager into one of the Margaret River’s leading names  – both in the vineyard and the winery – assisted by some of the area’s oldest vineyards, first planted in 1978, and they have now well and truly made it. Unfortunately Michael Wright did not live to see Voyager fulfil its potential, which is seen in the MJW wines named after its founder.

This wine has been a long time coming – Voyager Estate’s shot at the big league. They’ve always been exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons but never quite had the firepower until now to match it with the best in the country. Despite the quality leap this is still a typically elegant Voyager Estate with youthful aromatics of sweet blackcurrant with fantastic purity and distinctive cedary, gravel complexity. It is dry and fleshy, yet also with firm sinewy tannins, and shows fantastic balance, purity, length and beauty. A sublime Margaret River Cabernet that will sing for years.