Name: Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
SKU: 13200
Availability: InStock

Description

Howard Park, one of Western Australia’s pioneering wine families with a 30 year history and two generations of tireless work of the Burch family, they specialise in the state’s premier grape-growing regions of Margaret River and the Great Southern. They are also part of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW), an exciting collective of 12 multi-generational family-owned wine producers.

Winemaker Janice McDonald and the family are still celebrating after winning Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year for 2018. Peter Forrestal, of Gourmet Traveller said “Janice McDonald is an astounding winemaker: demanding of herself and others; rigorous; painstaking in her attention to detail.”

Margaret River is Australia’s most spectacular wine region with breathtaking coastline, Karri forests and maritime climate perfectly suited to premium grape growing. 100% estate grown fruit Howard Park makes beautiful wines with depth of fruit, balance and structure that overdeliver across the board.

This wine is part of Howard Park’s Distinguished Sites range. Cabernet Sauvignon from their Leston vineyard, located in the heart of Margaret River, is crafted to highlight the distinctive varietal and regional qualities of their best sites. In the temperate climate of Margaret River, Cabernet Sauvignon is at home. Here the maritime influences temper the extremes of seasons, and allow Cabernet Sauvignon to thrive.

About the 2022 vintage from the winemaker: In 2022, beautiful dry and sunny conditions were entrenched throughout January and February, removing a great deal of the disease pressure that rain and humidity can bring and allowing a predictable insight into ripening patterns across most varieties. While summer set the scene for another consistent and memorable vintage, certain varieties paid a penalty for difficult conditions earlier in the growing season. The wet winter of 2021 lingered unduly, smothering the renewal of spring and delaying the onset of budburst and flowering in the vineyards. The consequence was reduced yields in our estate vineyards in the Great Southern. Consistent fine weather at the tail end of the growing season ensured that the potential developed in the vines was maximised by picking at optimum levels of ripeness. Superb balance between sugar, acidity and flavour across all varieties gives us great optimism for the evolution of wines from the 2022 vintage.

“Small parcels were hand-picked and hand sorted to remove any unwanted material before fermentation. Fermentation occurred in closed stainless steel fermenters and small open top fermenters. Selected parcels remained on skins after fermentation to further enhance the tannin profile while others were pressed at dryness to capture fruit vibrancy. Each batch was matured separately in order to build a wine history over time. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and was matured in French oak (~ 25% new) for 18 months prior to blending, fining and bottling

“Inky concentration and purity of fruit take centre stage in a beguiling bouquet of black currant, dark cherry, boysenberry and plum. Freshly ground coffee, tilled earth, bay leaf and a fine dusting of cocoa lie underneath the abundant display of red and black fruit. Velvety and smooth, it unfurls across the palate with notes of cassis, brambleberry, and mulberry artfully counterbalanced by taut acidity and perfectly pitched tannins. Judicious use of French oak and impressive palate weight ensure a long and ever-evolving journey of flavour and nuance over the next five to ten years.”

94 Points, Ray Jordan, 2025 WA Wine Review “A really impressive cabernet from the heart of the Margaret River. it’s balanced and poised with great fruit intensity. Comes from a number of different sites within the Leston vineyard and has sightly aromatic ironstone and blue fruit character with a touch of graphite. The perfumes are quite engaging with notes of violet and bay leaf emerging. One of the best from this site.“

94 points, jamessuckling.com “The nose is perfumed, giving brooding notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, damson plums and graphite. The full-bodied palate has finely integrated tannins, showing bright mulberries, mocha and cedar. Extremely precise and fruit-driven with a savory undertone. Very good.”

Deep, bold red-purple colour with attractive mulberry and violet cabernet aromas, dark berries galore and smart oak, while the palate is a tad astringent and firm. There is good depth of flavour and authentic cabernet fruit, it just needs time—or hearty protein-rich food—to counter those tannins.

93 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review “Deep, bold red-purple colour with attractive mulberry and violet cabernet aromas, dark berries galore and smart oak, while the palate is a tad astringent and firm. There is good depth of flavour and authentic cabernet fruit, it just needs time—or hearty protein-rich food—to counter those tannins.”

RRP $51 **Our Special Price $38.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**