Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality Australian regional wines. Frankland Estate first came onto my wine radar around twenty years ago when I was working as a wine buyer and head sommelier in some of London’s most high-profile restaurants.

Buried deep in the heart of Western Australia’s most isolated wine region (250km east of Margaret River and inland from the wild and picturesque Great Southern coastline), Frankland Estate is as much a part of its natural landscape as it is a winery.

Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam co-founded Frankland Estate in 1988, after deciding to diversify their long-established wool-growing interests in the Frankland River region. Barrie’s unparalleled experience in production is owed to having been raised among vineyards, as well as to over 30 years of farming. He is renowned for his intimate knowledge and deep respect for the land, and for his firm belief in the winemaking potential of the Isolation Ridge vineyard.

Very much a tight-knit family affair, their children, Hunter and Elizabeth Smith, and their families live on the estate, too. The family have invested a lot of time and energy into minimising their impact on the ecological balance of the region, nurturing the micro-biology of the soils, and supporting causes to improve the health and future prosperity of the local fauna and flora. It is their commitment to sustainable farming that informs their winemaking practices.

The Rock Gully Shiraz offers a mid-weighted palate with bright florals, juicy fruit and a lifted integration of earthy spice notes and black pepper. The creamy texture and subtle oak provide a poised, elegant finish. Best enjoyed in a convivial atmosphere.