Lenton Brae 5 stars

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011
Margaret River, Western Australia
www.lentonbrae.com

Lenton Brae was established in 1982 by Perth town planner and architect, Bruce Tomlinson. Lenton Brae’s philosophy is to produce a limited range of wines, for which the Margaret River region is renowned, and for these wines to be amongst the best of their type. To this end, four wine styles are produced; Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Trophies awarded across the range at regional, state and national levels can attest to the dedication of the Tomlinson family in their endeavours.

Independent sommeliers Dan Sims and Ben Edwards say it’s time to hang up your membership of the Anything But Chardonnay Club, featuring Lenton Brae’s Trophy winning 2007 ‘Wilyabrup’ Chardonnay:

Lenton Brae

One of the ‘Best of the Best’ and 5/5 red star winery
Former architect and town planner Bruce Tomlinson built a strikingly beautiful winery (now heritage listed by the Shire of Busselton), which is now in the hands of winemaker son Edward, who consistently makes elegant wines in classic Margaret River style…”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011

Lenton Brae ‘Southside’ Chardonnay

Top Aussie White, 90/100 points (2008 vintage)
“This is the cheaper of Lenton Brae’s two Margaret River Chardonnays and is especially good value. Richly complex and layered, with peach, stone fruit, grapefruit and mealy characters, it’s so but also has backbone and depth. Lots of character for your money.”
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald

92/100 points (2008 vintage)
“This shows some attractive grapefruit and creamy winemaking character on the nose, some gentle tropical notes, citrus too, really fresh and zesty. The palate’s a fine-tuned and precise affair; some cashew-nut flavours rolls through here and grapefruit/lemon citrus flavour is placed in fine, firm shape with assertive, crunchy acidity.”
Nick Stock, The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2009

“Delicious” (2008 vintage)
90/100 points
“Delicious. Juicy, fun, interesting, lengthy-enough and just a delight to sit with and sip. Has a watery quality through the back palate but personally I don’t think this does the wine any harm. It otherwise tastes of fresh, dripping-with-juice pears and toast and ginger. Lemon too. A lovely drink, no doubting it.”
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, Sept 2009

Lenton Brae Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

3 Semillon Sauvignon Blancs listed in James Halliday’s ‘Best of the Best by variety’
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011

94/100 points (2009 vintage)
“A particularly fragrant bouquet and elegant palate; in Lenton Brae style, the fruit components contributed by each variety flow seamlessly into each other, grass, citrus, gooseberry and passionfruit all quietly murmuring. a wine with cellaring potential. Screwcap.”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011

Top 100 Wines (2008 vintage)
James Halliday, 2008

Lenton Brae ‘Wilyabrup’ Chardonnay

96/100 points (2007 vintage)
“96 point wine without a shadow of a doubt.”
Ben Edwards, The Wine Guide, Cheers TV Episode #3, Crikey.com.au, May 2010

Trophy – Best White Wine of Show (2007 vintage)
Margaret River Wine Show 2009

Lenton Brae Cabernet Sauvignon

“Perfectly balanced” (2005 vintage)
93/100 points
“A stylish and very elegant Margaret River cabernet that’s still only a pup. Wonderfully focussed and controlled with an effortlessly long and powerful finish. More medium bodied than full, but still very powerful. Lovely example of a more restrained style. Perfectly balanced.”
Ray Jordan, The West Magazine, June 2008

Lenton Brae Cabernet Merlot

94/100 points (2008 vintage)
“Crimson-purple; a pure and fragrant bouquet, then a vibrantly fresh palate, with redcurrant, blackcurrant, cherry and raspberry flavours, the finish lingering for a long time. Screwcap.”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011