The Porongurups are one of our State’s great natural treasures, and planted at the foot of this ancient granite range is the Duke’s Vineyard, a part of the Great Southern Wine Region.
It was established by Duke Ranson in 1999 when his planted his first vines on his 60th birthday and has established an award-winning reputation for his wines, predominantly dry Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
When Duke decided it was time to ease into retirement, he searched for four years to find the right person to take over, a path that led him to Ben Cane, who shares the same passion to make beautiful wines from an exceptional terroir.
This is a premium cool climate area with unique geology and has people dedicated to biodynamic viticulture, creating wines that express the philosophy of “minimal intervention” as well as respecting traditional winemaking.
Duke’s 2022 Magpie Hill Reserve Riesling
This Reserve Riesling is the perfect start to the tasting, with flinty, slate aromas bursting out of the glass with lemon zest hints. A mineral palate with lime and grapefruit, clean acid and a puckering finish. Superb is an understatement and perfect with a dozen Albany oysters.
Duke’s 2022 Magpie Hill Chardonnay
Fruit for this wine was sourced from Margaret River, the separate clones were made individually with Burgundian techniques and then blended and bottled. A light hay colour, with flinty and lemon aromas that burst onto the palate. This is still a young wine, but the flavours and textures show great potential.
Duke’s 2021 Magpie Hill Reserve
Cool climate cabernet sauvignon is a treat in a State dominated by warmer varieties and the 2021 Magpie Hill Reserve is a stand-out wine. Restrained use of French oak hogsheads has allowed the delicate, cherry fruit to stand out among the finely structured tannins. Some complex flavours of earth and forest blend with the fruit. A very well-balanced wine with potential.
Duke’s 2021 The First Cab
This is a wine from a single clone of cabernet sauvignon planted in 1999 and with a very limited production of only 121 cases. Deep crimson in the glass and a restrained nose of berries and smokey oak. Sensational palate of smouldering fruit, forest floor and cassis. There is real power in this wine and, for me, one of the best cool-climate cabernets I have had in a long time.
Duke’s 2021 Magpie Hill Reserve Shiraz
The Reserve Shiraz again reflects the beauty of red wines that have had minimal filtering and intervention, resulting in great textures and flavours. There are aromas and flavours of dark berries, spice and chocolate, all harnessed with silky tannins. This is a bold, muscular shiraz perfectly suited to dishes like beef bourguignon and has cellaring potential.
Win…
For your chance to win wine from Duke’s Vineyard,
visit our competitions page to enter.