Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Franc Merlot 2018

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Located in Wilyabrup, Woodlands is one of the oldest and most popular wineries in the Margaret River wine region, in Western Australia. It was founded in the early 1970s by David and Heather Warson and remains a family-run winery, producing critically and commercially acclaimed wines from its 10 hectares of vineyards. The winery focuses on Bordeaux varietals and is now run by David and Heather's sons, Andrew and Stuart. This Woodlands Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend has been produced since 2008 with grapes sourced from the Wilyabrup Valley. The blend is made with equal parts of the two grape varieties. After vinification, the finished wine is aged for approximately 15 months in French oak barrels. The wine displays a bright and dense color with crimson red tones and a ripe and broad aromatic profile with notes of blueberry, blackberry, and cassis, followed by earthy touches, black olives, and cedar. On the palate, it reveals the smoothness of the Merlot, combined with the freshness of the Cabernet Franc. It has a medium-full body and a good concentration of fruit. The tannins are firm and well-integrated and the finish is long and slightly spicy. Try it with pepperoni pizza, eggplant parmigiana, or pasta with Italian sausage.