High praise from Ray Jordan for Passel Estate’s latest releases

We are thrilled to share this flush of fantastic reviews in the WA Wine Review 2025 as we prepare to release our newest vintages.

Dedicated to showcasing Western Australias top wines and wineries, the WA Wine Review is written by leading wine writer Ray Jordan, and considered the benchmark in West Australian wine.

Passel Estate sauvignon blanc 2022
93 points
The key to this style using oak in the fermentation, is to strike the right balance. In this case it’s been nailed. The small amount of French oak fermentation has added a dimension of richness and texture, while not getting too carried away. There is a neat blend of spices and herbs with a citrus, nutty, cream character. The palate is long and precise with tremendous complexity already building.

Passel Estate chardonnay 2022 
95 points
This is a beautifully precise and elegantly structured chardonnay. It shows a little winemaking influence with a faint struck match complexity working seamlessly into the powerful palate revealing traces of grapefruit, cashew and a little brioche. A fine chalky acidity heightens the dry savoury finish. Impressive wine.

Passel Estate cabernet sauvignon 2019
93 points
This was a year that produced beautifully elegant wines of slightly less body, but no less flavour. Loads of leafy blackcurrant aromas with a liberal dose of dark chocolate and edgier black olive. A faint hint of brick dust adds a further level of complexity. The palate is seamlessly woven, with fine sinewy tannins, oak and fruit all laced together. Long palate.

Passel Estate shiraz 2021
92 points
This little vineyard has emerged as one of the best in Margaret River for shiraz. The wines always show excellent fruit intensity and balance. In this case, it ticks all the boxes. Savoury and slightly dried herby influences on the nose lift off the generous notes of dark plum. Lightly savoury spicy palate displays a balance of fruit, oak and tannin in support. A lightly earthy finish completes a nice wine.

Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Syrah 2020
96 points
A vintage primarily remembered for Covid also produced exceptional red wines in Margaret River. They are wines of tremendous fruit intensity and good balance. This refined and sophisticated wine of great elegance captures the essentials of the vintage. The tannins have a slightly sinewy edge but sit neatly while the liberal use of oak is balanced and supportive.