Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2007 “Nicolas” Cabernet Sauvignon has moderately pronounced notes of freshly crushed black currant and blackberry with some black pepper and bay leaf plus hints of graphite and cedar. Crisp acid cuts through the ripe, concentrated yet medium bodied fruit, supported by medium-firm, fine grained tannins, and finishing long and savory with a slight mint and cloves lift. Drink this one now to 2020+. Amongst the first wave of vineyards in Margaret River, David Watson established Woodlands in 1973 making it the fourth oldest vineyard in the region today. Sons Andrew and Stuart Watson are on board now making the wines. The estate remains firmly in the boutique category, producing small quantities of high quality wines that sit amongst the best in the area. No pesticides or herbicides are used here and from grape to bottle everything is for the most part natural and hands-on. The 2007 and 2008 reds are both looking very special, if very different, adeptly expressing the marked variations between the vintages. Andrew informed me, “2007 was a hotter year, but 2008 was drier. 2008 produced our lowest crop ever at Woodlands. Woodlands winery does not have a USA importer but exports to the UK, HK, Japan, Korea, SE Asia and Denmark.