Windy Creek

www.windycreekestate.com
27 Stock Rd
Herne Hill WA 6056
Telephone: 08 9296 1057
Visited: 2 June 2008

I have to admit that this was my second time in Windy Creek, the first was somewhere in the beginning of May where they blew me away with their excellent wines. They have a lovely tasting area and offer free cheese and crackers to tasters (very nice cheese it is) and they have an entertainment area where they hold functions. They also have a lot of wines on sale, and they can only be bought through the estate itself, which is unusual for a winery of this size and caliber.
The sales staff are laid back and friendly. Their lives continue whilst you are tasting: friends and acquaintances come and go, are greeted and chatted to. They have the knack to make you feel at home, part of the family.

Eight wines were tried and they were:

Verdelho 2007 $12
A little bit bland, with a sharp after taste.

Sauvignon Blanc 2007 $12
Lovely fresh and balanced, fruity taste and very crisp. Perfect for a hot autumn day.

Premium Classic Dry White 2007 $10
This had an absolutely lovely nose, fresh and citrus like and incredibly refreshing. I loved it

Chenin Blanc 2007 $12
Very forgettable. Can't remember anything about it.

Grenache 2006 $10
In my experience this French grape is mainly used for blending and it is rather difficult to make a good, stand-alone wine from Grenache. So it proved at Windy Creek, too.

Cabernet Merlot (non vintage) $10
Any decent red at $10 must be good value, and so was this. Not a big wine, but accessible, pleasant.

Old Vine Shiraz 2007 $12
Shiraz is what Windy Creek should concentrate on - the winemaker clearly understands this grape and the wine, especially at $12, is good value.

Family Reserve Shiraz $18.50
WOW. Big like an Opera Diva, as tasty as a The Works Pizza, yet as subtle as Machiavellian plot.This is probably the best Shiraz that I have tasted. Smooth, rich and velvety, it just sits right with me. It's well worth the visit to this farm just for this wine alone. And there is no damn $1 tasting fee.

Verdict: I bought the Family Reserve Shiraz and the Sauvignon Blanc and as I am typing this review I am wondering why I didn't take the Premium Classic White. A really lovely place to visit and one of my favourite spots in the Swan Valley.