Crikey, I have two Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Australia to review for you today. These wines come from two different regions of Australia. Clare Valley is the cooler region above the Barossa Valley in south-central Australia, and Margaret River on the west coast of Australia. Are there any differences or similarities between these two wine regions and the red wines they produce?
Margaret River Compared to the Clare Valley
Margaret River enjoys a maritime climate, moderated by its proximity to the Indian Ocean, which provides mild temperatures and consistent rainfall through winter and spring. The growing season is long and even, allowing grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to ripen slowly and retain balanced acidity and fine tannin structure. In contrast, the Clare Valley, located further inland, experiences a warmer, continental climate with hot days and cool nights, producing grapes with more concentrated fruit flavours, particularly in Shiraz and Riesling. The diurnal temperature variation helps preserve acidity despite the heat.
The soils of Margaret River are predominantly gravelly loams over clay, derived from ancient granite and gneiss, offering excellent drainage and low fertility that encourages deep root growth and small, flavourful berries. Clare Valley’s soils are more diverse, ranging from red-brown loams over limestone in the northern areas to sandy and slate-based soils around Watervale and Polish Hill. These soils retain just enough moisture to support vines through the dry season, imparting structure and minerality to the wines.
So will we see more bright acidity and lighter fruit flavours to the Margaret River wine compared to the Clare Valley wine? Read on.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Jim Barry & Sons Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Clare Valley, Australia (BC $29.99)
Appearance: An opaque black-garnet colour in the glass.
Nose: Very light aromas of black fruits, plums, and a touch of oak. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium body, with a smooth, soft, slightly thicker mouthfeel. Berries and plums, light, sweet black fruit, and hints of floral and char on the palate. Light pepperiness toward the finish. Medium tannins and lighter acidity. The wine shows more black fruits and is a bit more peppery after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus to long length finishing with juicy and tart berry fruits. Medium pepperiness, and tannins. More black fruits on the finish after decanting.
This wine has quite light aromas. I was hoping that decanting would make them a bit more expressive. Decanting has little effect on this wine, other than bringing forward the black fruit flavours. No need to decant.
Rating: 
– 
Jim Barry & Sons Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 shows an opaque black-garnet hue with light aromas of black fruits, plums and a hint of oak. The palate is smooth and medium bodied, offering ripe berries, plums, light floral notes and a touch of char, becoming slightly more peppery and black fruit forward after decanting. It finishes medium-plus to long with juicy berry fruit, black fruits, medium tannins and a pleasant peppery lift.
Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Margaret River, Australia (BC $32.99)
This wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot that is made for an easy, earlier drinking style. If you are a vegan, this wine using egg fining to clarify the wine. It is 100% wild fermented and matured in French Oak Barriques (100% 1-7 year old), for 10-12 months.
Appearance: A deep, dull garnet colour. About 95% opaque to the rim.
Nose: Medium intensity, inviting aromas of juicy berries, plums, along with touches of sweet spices, oak, char, black pepper, and dark fruits. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, with a lighter body, and lean, smooth mouth feel. Juicy berries, black fruits, plums, and light vanilla and oak flavours. Add a touch of floral, capsicum, and chocolate after swirling in the glass. Medium to medium-plus acidity. Medium tannins. The wine bumps up to medium body, and the wine is less lean, with some roundness to it. No change to the flavour profile. The tannins feel a little dusty after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus to long length finishing with light drying tannins and mouth watering acidity. Tart berry finish along with some black fruits and pepperiness. More black fruit flavour and stronger tannins on the finish after decanting.
An easy to enjoy, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. Swirling in the glass helps to open it up. Decanting makes this wine taste a wee bit better.
Rating: Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 displays a deep garnet colour with aromas of juicy berries, plums, sweet spices, oak, and a touch of char and black pepper. The palate is dry and smooth with notes of black fruits, plums, and a touch of vanilla, showing added hints of floral and chocolate with air and dusty tannins after decanting. It finishes long with lively acidity, tart berries, and peppery black fruit, gaining stronger tannic structure and black fruit flavours with decanting.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available for purchase from BC Liquor stores:
- Jim Barry & Sons Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (not yet in stock at BCL. Should be soon.)
- Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
