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.
About this wine from the winemaker: “The name Flint Rock epitomizes the fine mineral structure and savoury elegance of wines grown in the wildly remote and awesomely beautiful Great Southern of Western Australia. Our regional selection draws upon the varietal heroes of the 3 primary sub-regions; Mt Barker, Porongurup and Frankland River to craft wines with regional typicity and purity. The continental, cool climate of the Great Southern is favoured for growing Shiraz. In the Frankland and Mount Barker sub-regions, where Shiraz reigns, the wines display a great intensity of dark fruits with traces of spice, earth and guiding tannins.
“This vintage of Flint Rock Shiraz was sourced from Frankland River which typically offers a style that is bold and primary in fruit. Tempered by low rainfall and growing in lateritic gravelly/sandy loams of variable fertility and water holding capacity, the vines are of low to moderate yield.
“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.
“Vinification in small open vat fermenters with gentle cap management to facilitate the extraction of fine fruit tannin and strong varietal flavour. Select parcels were fermented with up to 15% whole bunch to elevate spice aromatics. Maturation was for 15 months in mostly old French oak.
“This cool-climate Shiraz embodies the essence of the Great Southern wine region: rich, powerful dark fruit, exotic spice and distinct minerality. Its character unfolds gracefully in the glass, with a concentrated fruit profile that remains impeccably fresh and tart, avoiding any hint of jamminess. The nose presents a captivating and inky medley of black cherry, blueberry, blackberry, clove, crushed peppercorn, wet slate and violets, seamlessly integrated and inviting. The palate is supple and soft, adorned with plentiful briary fruit providing depth and a plush texture, while grippy tannins offer impressive length. A bright, blood-orange-like acidity glides along the palate, complemented by subtle mineral nuances and a delicate oak influence, lending charry, woodsy notes. This wine is best enjoyed with grilled meats and other BBQ fare, yet for those with patience, carefully cellaring will reveal an even softer, silkier side yet to come.”
94 points, Ray Jordan Wine “The exquisite beauty of Frankland River shines through in this delightful expression of the region. Perfumed notes of spices, dark chocolate and plum with a little cherry lift. It’s rich and intense but typical of this region it presents with effortless finesse. It is quite brilliant and alive throughout, with fine chalky tannin and a subtle ferruginous character completing an outstanding value wine.”
92 points, Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion “Another very good Flint Rock focusing on dark fruit, ripe tannins and a richness across the fuller-bodied palate. In between, there’s the inky, stony character of Frankland River. Such an appealing imprint with its savoury outlay.
RRP $32 **Our Special Price only $24.50 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
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