Marmaduke? In North American culture, the name conjures images of a gangly Great Dane comic strip character. That has nothing to do with the name of this Australian wine. Marmaduke in this case refers to Marmaduke Terry, one of the original settlers of the Margaret River region. Even with accreditation it’s still a weird moniker for a bottle of wine. Fortunately, it is unlikely to be the focus of attention on this label.
Undulating waves of bright colour fronted by a riverbank of gold foil trees makes the first impression. The branding—though conspicuously large in point size—registers on a second glance in a “What is this?” moment. The image has achieved it’s objective.
I research the products I review, checking websites, reviews and posted images. The subtle evolution of packaging can be interesting. Previously, the positioning of Marmaduke and the Cape Mentelle brand name was reversed. It appears that with a recent update, the company decided leading with their name made for a more cohesive presentation for line expansion using the same basic design. Fair enough. Cape Mentelle is one of the founding Margaret River wineries.
I’ve enjoyed Margaret River wines for many years. The region produces wines of solid quality and character. I quite agree with the tasting note for this one. “This wine is a classic expression of cool climate Shiraz with dark plum, sweet spice and fine tannins.” If you enjoy Shiraz, this is what you want.
If I’m searching for Australian Shiraz, I’m likely to gravitate to ones from Margaret River. Then it becomes a matter of choice among similar offerings. The splashy colours and shiny trees drew my attention to Marmaduke. All else being equal, an attractive label will influence my decision to purchase. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
