At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Margaret River, southwestern Western Australia
- Main grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- Named wine
- Juniper Cabernet Merlot, 2023
- Defining feature
- Three vineyard sites certified under Sustainable Winemaking Australia in late 2022
The Producer
Roger Hill and Gillian Anderson founded Juniper as a wine business in 1998. Andrew later became Juniper Estate's head winemaker, and the named Juniper Cabernet Merlot uses Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The producer's vineyards are associated with Margaret River, including sites in Wilyabrup and Karridale. Its documented wines include the Juniper Cabernet Merlot and the Crossing Cabernet Merlot, with composition changing across vintages.
Place
Margaret River lies in southwestern Western Australia, 270 kilometres south of Perth. Juniper's cellar door stands on Tom Cullity Drive between the Wilyabrup vineyard and Wilyabrup Brook.
The vineyard geography extends from Wilyabrup to Karridale. Higher Plane sits south of the Margaret River town, while the cellar door remains beside the Wilyabrup site and brook.
Soil And Site
The Wilyabrup soils range from gravelly loam over clay to duplex sandy gravels. Gravel allows water to drain more quickly, while clay can hold moisture around the roots, creating different conditions within the same vineyard area.
Juniper's Higher Plane vineyard in Karridale was planted in 1997 and lies 20 kilometres south of the Margaret River town. Its central Wilyabrup vineyard occupies a separate position within the producer's vineyard holdings.
Story
Roger Hill's death in 2013 changed Juniper's ownership. Gillian Anderson became sole owner, and in 2017 their sons Nick and Tom took over the running of the business.
The transition separated ownership from day to day operation. Andrew's appointment as head winemaker added a further change in cellar leadership, while the vineyards continued under the Juniper name.
Vineyards And Cellar
The central Wilyabrup vineyard was planted in 2008 and has been sustainably farmed since planting. All three Juniper vineyard sites obtained certification under the Sustainable Winemaking Australia program in late 2022.
The available production detail is strongest in the vineyards. Fermentation vessels, extraction methods, ageing vessels, oak origin and ageing duration are not specified for the wines named here.
Wines
Juniper Cabernet Merlot sits under the South West Australia designation and is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The succeeding 2024 Crossing Cabernet Merlot is described as medium bodied, with vibrant berry fruit, savoury flavours, soft tannins, subtle acidity and a satisfying finish.
The 2018 Crossing Cabernet Merlot used five grape varieties: 55% Cabernet, 38% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. The bottles therefore move from a two variety Cabernet Merlot to a broader five variety composition in the documented Crossing vintage.
In The Glass
The Cabernet Merlot opens with blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, dark cherry, violet, eucalyptus, cedar, chocolate and oak. The palate is fruity and balanced, with cocoa, cedar and spicy oak alongside soft tannins and depth through the finish.
The older Crossing shows a more savoury register. Oak, olive tapenade, dried thyme, sage, mint and char sit over blackberry and cassis. Its suggested drinking window was five years.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Juniper Cabernet Merlot. It is the named bottle made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with soft tannins and depth through the finish. The wine carries the producer's most direct documented grape composition, while Crossing shows how the blend can widen in other vintages.
Anecdote
In 1973, Henry and Maureen Wright planted what is now Juniper's original Wilyabrup vineyard. The vineyard is counted among Margaret River's founding vineyards alongside Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle, Cullen, Moss Wood and Woodlands. The original plantings cover 9.56 hectares, and the site remains the Wilyabrup vineyard associated with Juniper Estate.
Final Word
Juniper Estate brings together Margaret River vineyards in Wilyabrup and Karridale with Cabernet Merlot wines whose grape composition changes from vintage to vintage.
Sources
1. https://juniperestate.com.au/pages/our-story 2. https://juniperestate.com.au/pages/vineyards 3. https://juniperestate.com.au/pages/cellar-door 4. https://margaretriver.guides.winefolly.com/wineries/juniper-estate/ 5. https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/juniper-9225901/ 6. https://dinvinguide.se/dryckestips/juniper-cabernet-merlot-2023 7. https://juniperestate.com.au/products/2024-crossing-cabernet-malbec 8. https://www.qwinereviews.com/2020/08/Juniper-Estate-Crossing-Cabernet-Merlot-2018.html