It’s been a pretty traumatic time for the team at Willow Bridge with the accidental surfing death of their chief winemaker, Simon Burnell, who was at the height of his powers driving the Willow Bridge portfolio to previously unreached levels of quality. His replacement, Kim Horton, is one of the West’s finest winemakers and so you can expect this winery to continue to set the trends for Geographe.
Jeff and Vicky Dewar established the winery almost 20 years ago and now have 60 hectares of vines planted at between 230 and 280 metres on the Darling Scarp. The quality of the whites has lifted significantly led by the Bookends Fumè Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and the G1-10 Chardonnay, while the budget-priced Dragonfly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc Semillon represent great value. The pick of the outstanding reds remain the Solana Tempranillo, Gravel Pit Shiraz and the flagship Black Dog Shiraz. The view from the cellar door of the Bunbury hinterland to the coast is uplifting and highlights the beauty of the area. Peter Forrestal