Xanadu Exmoor Sauvignon Sémillon 2020

Xanadu was established in 1977 in Margaret River by Dr John Lagan, who arrived in the area in 1968 and was inspired by the wineries being established at that time. The first vines were planted by Dr Lagan and his wife Eithne in 1977, making them now some of the oldest in the region. The name ‘Xanadu’ was chosen as Dr Lagan was a great literature enthusiast and a fan of the work of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who wrote about the idyllic and mysterious city of the same name, and Dr Lagan saw many parallels between the fictional city and his adopted home. There are now 65ha of vines, spread over three vineyards: Lagan Estate, the original plot, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Semillon; Stevens Road, with many well-known varieties, as well as graciano, Muscadelle, Petit Verdot and others; and the Boodjidup Estate, planted in 1999, with mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. ‘Xanadu’ expanded their operations and in 2001 were listed on the ‘Australian Stock Exchange’, and were subsequently bought by the ‘Rathbone Wine Group’ in 2005, who also own ‘Yering Station’ and ‘Mount Langi Ghiran’ in Victoria. Darren Rathbone, CEO of the wine group, oversees the winemaking for their brands, with Glen Goodall as Senior Winemaker, who joined ‘Xanadu’ in 1999, after working in France, South Africa, USA and New Zealand.

‘Xanadu’ produces a range of wines for all price points. The ‘Exmoor Sauvignon Blanc Semillon’ is an easy-drinking white with passionfruit, lemon and mango aromas and flavours, which is best drunk when it’s young and vibrant. The ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ is their middle-of-the-range red, with dense, dark fruits, fine-grained tannins and a long finish helping it to win many awards. At the top is their ‘Reserve Chardonnay’, which is both elegant and powerful with characteristic flint, almond and oatmeal notes and excellent acidity and stone fruit flavours. This wine has also been rated very highly by critics.

For more information on Xanadu and their wines, visit their website.