UMAMU Estate Wines Recognised in The Vintage Journal’s 2026 Margaret River Report
UMAMU Estate is delighted to share that several of our museum and recent-release wines have been featured in The Vintage Journal’s latest Margaret River Guide 2026, receiving outstanding praise and exceptional scores.
The Vintage Journal, led by respected wine critic Andrew Caillard MW, is regarded as one of Australia’s most authoritative and scholarly wine publications.
Its regional reports offer deep historical, viticultural, and stylistic analysis, accompanied by independent tasting assessments from some of the most experienced judges in the country.
This year’s Margaret River edition highlighted three UMAMU Estate wines:
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Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – 95 points
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Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 – 92 points
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Chardonnay 2006 – 93 points
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 — 95 Points
The Vintage Journal praised the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon as “another outstanding vintage that is triumphant in the glass.”
The review highlights its lingonberries, apple skin, and a bushel of blackberries, with Morello cherries and a plume of dusty tannins giving the wine what the Journal described as “invigorating freshness and graceful nature.”
The wine was noted for its dried bay leaf, sage, and pencil-shaving finish, with a recommended drinking window extending to 2037.
You can buy Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 here.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 — 92 Points
The Vintage Journal awarded the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points, describing it as a wine that beautifully illustrates the way Cabernet evolves over time.
On the palate, the wine shows savoury complexity with touches of Kalamata olive and dried rosemary, while its gently maturing tannins continue to support the wine’s backbone. According to the Journal, this bottle “shows its impressive vintage, and its delicate chew is something to really behold.”
The reviewer recommended pairing it with Moroccan spiced pork or dukkah-crusted lamb, with a drinking window through 2027.
You can buy Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 here.
Chardonnay 2006 — 93 Points
The 2006 Chardonnay received one of the most evocative reviews in the report. The Vintage Journal described it as “still hanging on… amazing,” celebrating its expressive development and remarkable longevity.
Tasting notes highlighted caramel, piña colada, nuts, honey, golden richness, and pineapple upside-down cake, alongside a sense of nostalgia: “this is the beauty of wine — it captures an era and transports you straight back there.”
Drinkers are encouraged to enjoy it now, while limiting oxygen at service to preserve its delicacy.
You can buy Chardonnay 2006 in our vertical tasting pack.
A Celebration of Patience, Balance and Provenance
Charmaine, principal of UMAMU Estate, said the team was honoured by the recognition:
“These reviews mean a great deal to us because they speak not only to the quality of single wines, but to consistency across vintages and styles. To have both our cabernets and an aged museum chardonnay recognised in the same report reinforces our belief in balance, gentle handling, and letting time reveal the beauty in each wine.”
She added:
“We farm and craft our wines with patience at the core. Seeing a 2006 Chardonnay still shining — and our more recent cabernet vintages achieving such high praise — is incredibly rewarding.”
