What a beauty! Is there no end to how high Cliff Royle and his team can raise the bar? Being the good budding journo that I am, I went back to copies of The WineStar Journal from 5 years ago when I wrote that Voyager Estate Cabernet was on the same tier of quality as Cullen and Moss Wood yet at a fraction of the price. I have seen nothing over the last 5 years to change my mind. In fact having seen the 2003 Cabernet Merlot on 3 occasions now I contemplated a very scary thought indeed - I couldn't help but think the wines are getting even better. That is an amazing thought really given how good these wines have been but following the pearler of a 2002 they pulled out last year (from a below par vintage, mind you) and now this effort, this is truly a winery at the top of its game. It is not just the Cabernet Merlot that excites; as a complete package across the entire range of reds and white Voyager Estate would be the regions number one. We'll worry about the other wines in the coming weeks but this is the 'must-have' and our first nomination for wine of the year - yes, it is that good.
Outstanding colour and clarity, a burst of rich and ripe cassis and berry aromas. The mouth shows more blackcurrant and cassis flavours with a hint of savoury oak. The tannins are ripe but not sweet, the finish long. Every showing has me concocting drinking windows I rarely contemplate yet it shows remarkable balance for a young wine. Let's err on the side of caution and say 10 years down but this is an exceptional wine that again sits comfortably on the top shelf of WA reds. Drink: Now - 2017. Quality: Exceptional – BW; WineStar © January 2007
A deeper hue with more ruby colour than the same wine sealed with cork, this is a classy, seamless Margaret River cabernet of immense potential. Scented with a heady, smoky and slightly meaty and perfume of dark plums, cherries and cassis, it’s backed by nuances of forest floor, mocha and spearmint with undertones of pencil shavings oak. Long and sumptuous, it’s vibrant, deeply fruited and finely crafted, presenting a rare marriage of impact and structure with elegance and balance. (Margaret River, $45 retail, approx., 19.0/96, drink 2015-2023) Jeremy Oliver
As much as I do like Coonawarra and Yarra cabernet I still like Margaret River the best and Voyager Estate is one of the best of the best. We bought plenty of the 98, 99 and 01 vintages but seem to have missed 00 and 02. Won’t be missing out on this vintage though. Half a dozen will be going straight to the pool room. A great smelling wine offering up blackcurrant, cherry, dark chocolate, tobacco and pencilly oak. Classic cabernet. On the palate medium to full bodied with firm ripe long grained tannins. The tannins are particularly good and sit beautifully within the wine. It has rich blackcurrant and cherry fruit balanced with more earthy tobacco, dark chocolate and cedar flavours and blah blah blah… at this point I stopped analysing and starting drinking because all you really need to know is that this is a top shelf Margaret River cabernet. Fill your boots. Rated : 96 Points; Alcohol : 14%; Price : $45; Closure : Screwcap; Drink : 2007 - 2023; Gary Walsh, Winorama
A classic Bordeaux blend of 75 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 per cent Merlot, 4 per cent Cabernet Franc and 1 per cent Petit Verdot. Strong red-purple; medium-to full-bodied; rich, round, blackcurrant fruit; supple tannins and quality oak all seamlessly interwoven. Drink: to 2025; Rating: 95 points; James Halliday Wine Companion 2007
Classic Cabernet, cherry, spice, moderate concentration, integrated oak. Well made. Balanced, midweight aromatic finish. Needs time. 4-6 years. Decanter Award Winners – 5 Star Wines; Decanter Magazine, February 2007
Voyager Estate is not only one of Margaret River’s finest wine producers – it’s right up there with the best in Australia. The 2003 Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot is one of the best yet. The deep, bright colour is a joy to behold, and the powerful cassis nose features beautifully integrated oak. The long, firm palate is very impressive and perfectly balanced. Cellar ten years…. Outstanding. Winewise, 25th December 2006
There's normally a hint of bay leaf in southern Margaret river cabernet but I don't smell it here. But there is masses of dark plummy, currant and attractive vanilla oak too. Has succulent, juicy currants in the mouth too; really mouth-filling with long dry tannins- classic Cabernet Sauvignon tanginess. Plums and chocolate round things off. Another classy Voyager Cabernet Sauvignon. 94(95)/100 Tim White, The Financial Review
Now this is a lovely cabernet. It's balanced and fine, blisteringly varietal and yet ready to be chugged into too. Tobacco, chocolate, blackcurrant, pencils, dust, gravel - it's a picture of Margaret River cabernet, at its balanced best. It's adorable. Drink: 2007-2016. 93 points. Campbell Mattinson, The Winefront
In the Margaret River region as a whole, the 2003 vintage is considered superior to the 2002 vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon. However, Voyager Estate’s 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot received widespread acclaim amongst the wine community and I believe our 2003 vintage wine takes our pursuit to another level. Cliff Royle, Winemaker
