Watershed Celebrates Further Cabernet Success at Wine Show of WA’s 40th Celebration

Margaret River, Western Australia – 28 October 2017 – Watershed’s 2014 Awakening Cabernet Sauvignon has been awarded 4 trophies at the 2017 Wine Show of Western Australia including Best Wine of Show, Best Red Wine of Show, Best Cabernet Sauvignon and the highly prestigious JS Gladstones Trophy for Best and Most Distinctive Regional Character.

Originating in Mount Barker in 1978, this year’s Wine Show of Western Australia marks 40 years of celebrating and judging the best of Western Australian grown wines.

Head winemaker, Severine Logan, described winning the trophies as “great recognition for Watershed and the Margaret River region”, and said that the 2014 vintage was “a good year for Margaret River with the cabernet being particularly intense, concentrated and a real representation
of site.”

The wine’s performance on the Australian Wine Show circuit is striking. Its gold medal and trophy tally now stands at 12 and 6 respectively which includes winning the Perth Royal Wine Show’s Best Cabernet Trophy for the past two years.

“It’s our flagship red wine and so only the finest fruit and best barrels go into it. The result is a wine showing distinctive Margaret River cabernet characters -black currant, liquorice, black olive, hints of cigar box on the nose and a dense, velvety palate with fine tannins adding structure and length.”

As further tribute to the quality of Watershed’s cabernets, wine critic James Halliday awarded 98 points, the equal top score in the cabernet category, for the multiple trophy-winning 2010 Awakening Cabernet, in his recently published 2018 Australian Wine Companion.

The accumulation of awards for Watershed’s Awakening Cabernet is impressive with 17 trophies, 41 gold medals and a finalist for the Jimmy Watson Trophy.

Trophy Awards for Watershed’s Awakening Cabernet Sauvignon

OUR STORY

In 1999, Watershed’s Founder and Managing Director, Geoff Barrett, discovered a piece of land just south of the Margaret River townsite. Geoff assembled his winemaking and viticultural teams and set about developing the site into the world-class vineyard, winery and restaurant we see today. Our first vines were planted in 2001 and our first wines were released from Margaret River growers fruit in September 2002 to coincide with the opening of our cellar door. Construction of our restaurant and cafe soon followed which were officially opened in 2003. Today, Watershed’s annual production exceeds 100,000 cases and wines are widely available on the domestic and international market.

The definition of watershed is ‘to go to a new (higher) level of understanding; an awakening’. A second meaning is ‘a high area of land between two bodies of water’. Both meanings are appropriate to Watershed Premium Wines.

The Watershed label was designed by Roland Butcher and incorporates a purple room with a four paned window on the wall. Green vines can be seen looking out of the window, however, the main focus is a ray of light streaming through the glass and diffusing across the floor, symbolizing a human being’s ‘stream of consciousness’ – a creative but almost uncontrollable thought process, spurred on by small inspirations, all leading to a final revelation, or awakening.

This is one of the most impressive ventures in Margaret River and it’s not only the wines that make an impression. The striking modern cellar door, winery complex and rapidly expanding vineyards clearly signal a major new player. Sites were chosen specifically for their soil suitability to varieties. Top-rate range of wines at different price points.

Watershed Senses chardonnay 2016 ($29.95)

A lighter-bodied chardonnay that sits below the Awakening. Yet this is very good. Minerally with a creamy texture showing some subtle cashew character. Vibrant and alive on the palate with the clever use of oak as a feature.
SCORE 92/100 CELLAR 5 Years

Watershed Shades sauvignon blanc semillon 2016 ($18.95)

Keeping this wine an extra year in bottle just takes some of those initial primary characters off and allows the next layer of flavours and aromas to emerge. The result is a most appealing wine still showing abundant tropical citrus characters with a precise long palate
SCORE 91/100 CELLAR 3 years

Watershed Awakening Single Block A1 chardonnay 2016 ($46.95)

A classy chardonnay made using wild yeasts and 100 per cent barrel fermentation. Deep and penetrating creamy fruit with a nutty grapefruit minerally edge. It’s tightly framed but the fruit is starting to emerge. Perhaps the best under this range. The length on the palate is most impressive
SCORE 95/100 CELLAR 8 years

Watershed Senses cabernet merlot 2014 ($29.95)

Here is all you want in a Margaret River cabernet merlot blend. Deep and powerful blackcurrant with rich dark plum and cedary characters. Palate is loaded with opulent fruit intensity, balanced by some neat tight grained oak and fine chalky tannins. Smooth and seamless and thoroughly drinkable
SCORE 92/100 CELLAR 7 years

Watershed Senses shiraz 2014 ($29.95)

Loads happening in this full-bodied, though elegantly structured, shiraz. Aromas of coffee grinds and spices with a decent sprinkle of cinnamon. The palate is all dark fruits swirling with spicy coffee and dark chocolaty plummy fruits. Grainy tannins create a textured gravelly palate. Lovely savoury finish.
SCORE 94/100 CELLAR 10 years