Margaret River is a place of spectacular beauty, where its residents are just as likely to surf before work – or during their lunch break – as they are to be involved in producing the region’s revered wine. That’s certainly the case for Xanadu winemakers Glenn Goodall and Brendan Carr, who are behind the winery’s newest range, Circa 77, which celebrates everything they love most about the region.
Comprising five wines, the new Xanadu Circa 77 range – formerly known as Exmoor – is named to reflect the winery’s origins, having been established in 1977. Each bottle’s label features aerial photography of the wider region’s striking coastline, and the wines are fresh expressions of some of the region’s key varieties. These new releases include a cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, shiraz, rosé and a blend of sauvignon blanc semillon, and each wine is priced at $20.
A deep understanding of each of Xanadu's vineyards lies behind the team's approach to winemaking and production.
The winemaking approach at Xanadu is all about creating expressive, regional wines of uncompromising quality. For senior winemaker Glenn, who has been at the winery for half its life, after joining in 1999, it’s all about getting to know their sites and understand them at a deep level. As a result, the team takes an intuitive approach to winemaking, holding a deep respect for the vineyards and what each individual site has to offer. This has helped the team win a swag of awards, including the coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy and 2015 Halliday Wine Companion Wine of the Year.
Xanadu’s vineyards benefit from the ideal conditions of Margaret River, with its Mediterranean climate and coastline surrounding them on three sides, which creates a warm growing season relieved by the cooling sea breeze. When combined with the region’s ancient soils, it creates extraordinary conditions for winemaking, especially for its key varieties, as reflected in this range.
The wines
The new Xanadu Circa 77 range, which is named to mark the winery's 1977 beginnings.
2019 Xanadu Circa 77 Cabernet Sauvignon
Vibrant, ripe black and blue fruits and spice on the nose lead to a generous, fleshy palate with savoury notes black olive and licorice.
2020 Xanadu Circa 77 Chardonnay
Fresh and fruit-driven, this medium-bodied wine has zesty fruit aromas and a creamy texture with a bright, crisp finish.
2018 Xanadu Circa 77 Shiraz
This medium to full-bodied wine shows violet florals and inky ripe forest fruits, with approachable tannins and a supple structure.
2021 Xanadu Circa 77 Rosé
Punchy and bright, expect wild strawberry and cream flavours, with ripe watermelon and zesty pink grapefruit, leading to a crisp, dry finish.
2021 Xanadu Circa 77 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
One of the region’s classic combinations, this refreshing, fruit-driven blend combines zippy citrus, tropical fruits and a touch of quince.
For all details and more on Xanadu, visit xanaduwines.com
