Voyager Estate reminds me of the Miles Davis Album titled Birth of the Cool. In 1991, Michael Wright bought the former Freycinet vineyard and began a transformation, which would now be one of the most spectacular wineries in Australia.
Voyager Estate reminds me of the Miles Davis Album titled Birth of the Cool. In 1991, Michael Wright bought the former Freycinet vineyard and began a transformation, which would now be one of the most spectacular wineries in Australia. Not only did he transform the winery and cellar door facilities but also focused on the upgrading of the techniques used throughout the vineyard. The results of this rebirth over the last half a decade has been remarkable, with wines like the chardonnay reaching the dizzy heights of benchmark status within the region, with the other wines from the estate not far behind. Voyager has been firmly established as one of the “super second” wineries and is moving forward with not a note of the Blues insight. We are in a fantastic position, says Adam Palmer, marketing manager for Voyager Estate.
Adam recently returned from a trip into the highly competitive United States and European markets, and he explains that the response has been tremendous. There is a different culture around selling into both the US and Europe. In the US you know that once you have cracked a 90-plus point score in the well read Wine Spectator Magazine or from the “Master”, Robert Parker, you will have doors opened for you, which could happen for Voyager with our ’97 Chardonnay. This year almost a third of our Shiraz will go into America and you can now find the chardonnay on wine lists across the country. In Europe we have been getting small yet enthusiastic bits from different countries which is encouraging. Our distributors in London commented when out at lunch tasting through a number of chardonnays that the Voyager could have been picked as a white burgundy, which coming from old-school London wine merchants is high praise.
Voyager Estate Semillon 1998
rrp $24.00 17/20 points
Often not rated in WA, however, the guys at Voyager are making people sit up and take notice with semillon like this. Clean grassy, herbaceous pungent aromas show a touch of development. Plenty of fruit on the palate that is soft with a creamy texture of pears, rounded lemon acidity that has plenty of punch and length of finish.
Voyager Estate Semillon 1999
rrp $24.00 17.5/20 points
Sit up and take notice of this example of super semillon. Look for attractive confectionery, apple and touches of creamy vanillin-oak aroams. The palate shows layers of quality fruits, gooseberry, citrus limes and lemons and touches of granny smiths displaying roundness and a long finish. Quite a young tight wine that has plenty of life.
Voyager Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2000 rrp $20.00 18/20 points
The team at Voyager has put out the challenge that this is the best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon in this style in Australia. Released late last year this wine will be sold out by the end of August.
The 2000 is the best that I have seen this wine, real pungent aromatic passionfruit and snow pea aromas that seriously leap out of the glass. It shows the attention to detail that is occurring in the vineyard. Intense and flavorsome palate is engulfed with passionfruit and nectarines, rounded acidity and touches of snow peas, the wine finishes with freshness and zing.
Voyager Estate Chardonnay 1999
rrp $33.00 18.5/20 points
This wine has established its self as a benchmark Western Australian Chardonnay! The 99’ displays intense lime citrus aroams together with figs and coffee, the aroams change in the glass and you find yourself peering inside to see what next you will find. The viscous palate is filled with lime citrus, nectarine, white peach and cashew flavours that are bound tightly together. This is a complex wine showing refinement and classy winemaking.
Voyager Estate Shiraz 1999
rrp $ 28.00 16.5/20 points
This is the first release of a straight shiraz from Voyager, which has lead to the demise of the popular Shiraz Grenache. A range of techniques has been used to put this wine together, with a sound result. Medicinal, prune, plums, red berry fruit and European savoury aromas are in tune with a palate that displays blueberry and bramble flavours with a peppery spice and oak integration. There is a distinctive Rhone feel to this wine and as the vines mature at Voyager you will see this wine excel.
Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot 1997 rrp $40.00 17/20 points
Another delight – intensity of the aromas fill the glass, with a touch of tobacco leaf, smokiness, leather and a touch of chocolate. Savoury sweet fruit fill the palate with flavours of damsons, redcurrants, cassis cedary oak combine with soft, dusty tannins leaving a long, structured finish.
Adam recently returned from a trip into the highly competitive United States and European markets, and he explains that the response has been tremendous. There is a different culture around selling into both the US and Europe. In the US you know that once you have cracked a 90-plus point score in the well read Wine Spectator Magazine or from the “Master”, Robert Parker, you will have doors opened for you, which could happen for Voyager with our ’97 Chardonnay. This year almost a third of our Shiraz will go into America and you can now find the chardonnay on wine lists across the country. In Europe we have been getting small yet enthusiastic bits from different countries which is encouraging. Our distributors in London commented when out at lunch tasting through a number of chardonnays that the Voyager could have been picked as a white burgundy, which coming from old-school London wine merchants is high praise.
Voyager Estate Semillon 1998
rrp $24.00 17/20 points
Often not rated in WA, however, the guys at Voyager are making people sit up and take notice with semillon like this. Clean grassy, herbaceous pungent aromas show a touch of development. Plenty of fruit on the palate that is soft with a creamy texture of pears, rounded lemon acidity that has plenty of punch and length of finish.
Voyager Estate Semillon 1999
rrp $24.00 17.5/20 points
Sit up and take notice of this example of super semillon. Look for attractive confectionery, apple and touches of creamy vanillin-oak aroams. The palate shows layers of quality fruits, gooseberry, citrus limes and lemons and touches of granny smiths displaying roundness and a long finish. Quite a young tight wine that has plenty of life.
Voyager Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2000 rrp $20.00 18/20 points
The team at Voyager has put out the challenge that this is the best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon in this style in Australia. Released late last year this wine will be sold out by the end of August.
The 2000 is the best that I have seen this wine, real pungent aromatic passionfruit and snow pea aromas that seriously leap out of the glass. It shows the attention to detail that is occurring in the vineyard. Intense and flavorsome palate is engulfed with passionfruit and nectarines, rounded acidity and touches of snow peas, the wine finishes with freshness and zing.
Voyager Estate Chardonnay 1999
rrp $33.00 18.5/20 points
This wine has established its self as a benchmark Western Australian Chardonnay! The 99’ displays intense lime citrus aroams together with figs and coffee, the aroams change in the glass and you find yourself peering inside to see what next you will find. The viscous palate is filled with lime citrus, nectarine, white peach and cashew flavours that are bound tightly together. This is a complex wine showing refinement and classy winemaking.
Voyager Estate Shiraz 1999
rrp $ 28.00 16.5/20 points
This is the first release of a straight shiraz from Voyager, which has lead to the demise of the popular Shiraz Grenache. A range of techniques has been used to put this wine together, with a sound result. Medicinal, prune, plums, red berry fruit and European savoury aromas are in tune with a palate that displays blueberry and bramble flavours with a peppery spice and oak integration. There is a distinctive Rhone feel to this wine and as the vines mature at Voyager you will see this wine excel.
Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot 1997 rrp $40.00 17/20 points
Another delight – intensity of the aromas fill the glass, with a touch of tobacco leaf, smokiness, leather and a touch of chocolate. Savoury sweet fruit fill the palate with flavours of damsons, redcurrants, cassis cedary oak combine with soft, dusty tannins leaving a long, structured finish.
