By James Atkinson
The recent Devil's Lair releases include the first red wine crafted from start to finish by winemaker Oliver Crawford as well as refreshed packaging for the Margaret River label, according to Treasury Wine Estates.
October's release of the Devil's Lair Margaret River Chardonnay 2011 and Devil's Lair Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 follow the announcement by Treasury Wine Estates of a renewed focus on its smaller volume brands.
The packaging has had a refresh, with refined bottle labels and different closures.
A spokeswoman for Treasury told TheShout that when Crawford first arrived at Devil's Lair in 2008, the fruit was sourced 100 per cent from the label's Estate vineyards in the south of Margaret River.
He subsequently began sourcing fruit from the warmer Wilyabrup area as he found it to produce more voluptuous fruit flavours.
The Devil's Lair Cabernet release was originally labelled Cabernet Merlot, but with the fuller fruit profile of the Wilyabrup fruit, the Merlot component was reduced and the wines now bear the label "Cabernet Sauvignon".
Treasury said the wines demonstrate how the climatic differences within Margaret River impact on each variety.
"The southerly location of Devil's Lair's Chardonnay vineyards, with cooling breezes from the Southern Ocean, is perfect for Chardonnay, while the warmer influence from the Indian Ocean gives rise to the unique climate of Wilyabrup consistently producing outstanding reds," the company said.