Reviews

Pinot Noir | 2022

Victory Point 2022 Pinot Noir

I’ll even entertain only two Pinots from Margaret River — this is one. Pomegranate, fresh-cut hay, cranberry, and freeze-dried strawberries… in chocolate. Elegant and rough around the edges. Gentle lavender, crushed gravel, and candle wax. There’s a lot to like about this little needle in the hayshed (couldn’t think of a better analogy — but it fits). The 16% new French oak and 10% whole bunch are well hidden — framing but not taking away from place. It runs a touch hot, but for a region that “can’t do Pinot,” this is a cheeky little treat. Have with rabbit stew, cooked over coals, listening to The Doors.

Cyndal Petty - WinePilot.com | 91/100 points

The Mallee Root | 2023

Victory Point 2023 The Mallee Root

For red wines under $30 that actually do the trick, I reckon Victory Point will dance with the best. This Malbec-Cabernet blend (63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc) is somehow still varietal — not sure I can explain that. Gentle, with round edges. It wears party shirts and chinos. Even palate weight, with a juicy-chewy finish. This is a bargain. Great wine. Great price. Drink now.

Cyndal Petty - WinePilot.com | 93/100 points

Cabernet Sauvignon | 2020

Victory Point 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

Could smell this for days. Sweet tobacco, cinnamon, bay leaf. Medium-bodied — as Cabernet should be — with just enough grunt. Black plums, sweet mulberry, shaved pencil. Quietly hits every mark, no fuss, no flab. Long, savoury finish with soft edges. Victory Point is still one of the most underrated producers in Margaret River — a dry-grown site tucked a little inland, doing its own thing. Wines of pedigree. This isn’t the exception, it’s the rule. It’s giving… dusty original vinyl. Drink with your dad. Eat with herb-heavy pasta. Fresh, savoury, and bloody good.

Cyndal Petty - WinePilot.com | 95/100 points

Chardonnay | 2020

Victory Point 2020 Chardonnay

Vine age is around 20 plus years on a north facing slope. Wild ferment and matured on lees for 10 months in 38% new French oak with additional battonage. Abundant yellow citrus, mango skin and yellow peach cheeks with lingering hazelnut toffee. A hint of toasted popcorn. There are layers of vanilla sponge cake interspersed with a sandy salinity. It’s a big wine that holds its shape very well. I don’t think anyone ever said there is TOO much flavour in this Chardonnay and for good reason, it’s a celebration of Margaret River and the blessing of the climate of the region. Drinking very well now and will cellar for another 3-5 years. Drink with roast chicken with lemon thyme stuffing.

WinePilot.com - Shanteh Wale | 95/100 points

Chardonnay | 2022

Victory Point 2022 Chardonnay

Easily missed — this wine’s beauty crept up on me. Lime skin, cashew cream, fried sage leaves, and pencil shavings. With 48% Gin Gin Clone and the majority made up of different Dijon clones, it steps away from Margaret River’s status quo — leaning savoury, textural, and confidently standing alone in style. The 41% new oak, though bold in choice, integrates naturally. It’s sheltered and elegant — but feels like it’s been through a lot. Bamboo sticks, preserved lemon and slate, are met with flint and lemon balm as the wine slowly unwinds. The finish is long and savoury, with a quiet persistence. Decant before serving — this one deserves a moment to unfurl.

WinePilot.com - Cyndal Petty | 95/100 points

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Winepilot | 93

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WA Wine Guide | 93

The Mallee Root | 2020

One of the prettiest and most elegant of any wine under this Mallee Root label. Excellent year contributed to it for sure, but some astute winemaking has helped. Hand plunging in small open fermenters has contributed to the bright highly scented aromas. Lovely red berry with a little blackcurrant richness with fine chalk tannins and clever subtle use of oak. Mighty good wine for less than $30.

WA Wine Guide | 94

Pinot Noir | 2021

The vintage was a bit of a balancing act for winemakers with some pesky rain, but for these later ripening varieties it worked out okay. It’s a tidy medium bodied wine showing that pinot noir can work rather well in Margaret River. Has a spicy raspberry cherry aroma with a little vanilla bean. The decision not to use any new oak has allowed a full expression of the fruit while retaining its core of lifted acidity and fine tannins.

WA Wine Guide | 92

Petit Verdot | 2021

These vines planted in 1997 are now reaching a level of maturity to supply fruit of excellent balance and concentration. This is a medium to full bodied wine with a firm core of tannin supported by largely older oak and a smidgeon of new French. Dark chocolate and slightly minerally plummy bac fruit provides the palate base. It’s a fruit and fleshy wine with poise and balance.

WA Wine Guide | 92

Malbec | 2021

A variety that is making quite an impact these days as a stand-alone varietal. And it seems that this cooler Margaret River vintage has suited this variety rather well, bringing a degree of elegance and refinement into the mix. Perfumed red fruits with a subtle leafy influence and a trace of liqueur chocolate. The palate is seamlessly integrated and medium weight. Smooth and elegantly long.

WA Wine Guide | 94

Chardonnay | 2020

This ever improving chardonnay comes from mature unirrigated vines. IT is a mix of Gingin and Dijon clones which combines power and elegance in once united presentation. It’s whole bunch pressed to oak for 100% wild fermentation before 10 months in oak of which 38% was new. Has a creamy stone fruit middle palate with a trace of cashew and minerality. This was a very good vintage for chardonnay and this one has emerged beautifully.

WA Wine Guide | 95

Cabernet Sauvignon | 2020

A thoroughly beautiful and refined cabernet sauvignon from this excellent vintage. There’s a small amount of bright malbec in there bringing a juicy red fruit impact to the middle palate. IT’s one of the more elegant and stylish cabernets from Victory Point displaying impeccable balance of fruit oak and tannin. Bright blackcurrant fruit on the nose with a leafy oyster shell influence. The palate is still tightly held as is the case with many of these 2020 cabernets but it will certainly release and evolve with time.

WA Wine Guide | 95

Rosé | 2023

This is a rose that combines the bright freshness you want in this style with a degree of complexity and sophistication, which is a result of fermentation in oak and time on lees with regular stirring. All this builds texture and palate completeness. Lifted perfumed aromas with such a beautifully presented palate. Excellent.

WA Wine Guide | 94

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Halliday Wine Companion | 95

The Mallee Root | 2020

Blend of 57/43% cabernet sauvignon/malbec, aged 16 months in French oak barriques (13% new). For the price and quality, this is excellent. It’s drinking beautifully now, it’s supple, sweetly fruited, spicy, savoury and compact. Yet there’s depth and length with textural tannins adding another layer.

Halliday Wine Companion | 94

The Mallee Root | 2020

Blend of 57/43% cabernet sauvignon/malbec, aged 16 months in French oak barriques (13% new). For the price and quality, this is excellent. It’s drinking beautifully now, it’s supple, sweetly fruited, spicy, savoury and compact. Yet there’s depth and length with textural tannins adding another layer.

Halliday Wine Companion | 94

Chardonnay | 2020

If you like your chardonnay rich and full bodied with plenty of flavor, here’s one to satisfy. Loads of ripe peaches, melon doused in lemon curd and cream, nutty/leesy flavours, too, with the oak adding spices and sweetness. It’s also delicious.

Halliday Wine Companion | 95

Cabernet Sauvignon | 2020

Victory Point 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

From vines that are now over 25 years old this is super fragrant with salty plum, black olive, thyme and sage jumping out of the glass. The palate is elegant and refined with the tannins very fine and powdery against the refreshing acidity. The balance and tension between flavour the structure are seamless. The fruit has a purity and intensity that draws you back in to take another sip. The length keeps going and fans across the tongue like a peacock’s tail with bright flavours of cassis, mulberry, cedar, tomato leaf and a dash of oregano and basil. Sip this with home-made Shepherd’s pie (lamb mince, a rich gravy and buttery mashed potato).

winepilot.com - Matt Dunne | 95

Petit Verdot | 2021

These vines planted in 1997 are now reaching a level of maturity to supply fruit of excellent balance and concentration. This is a medium to full bodied wine with a firm core of tannin supported by largely older oak and a smidgeon of new French. Dark chocolate and slightly minerally plummy bac fruit provides the palate base. It’s a fruit and fleshy wine with poise and balance.

| 92