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.
“The Flint Rock Shiraz is a selection from Frankland River and Mount Barker. Each sub region brings its own personality to the wine. Frankland, typically bold and primary in fruit while Mount Barker is finer and spicy. 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 the cool and temperate climate of the South West of Western Australia, the winter of 2019 gave less than average rainfall, and an expectation that yields from the 2020 vintage would be low. As the earth gradually faced more to the sun, spring uncoiled its impulsive nature, followed by a temperate warm, dry summer – setting the stage for a promising outcome. With veraison came the flowering of the native marri blossoms to avert the attention of our indigenous resident bird population away from the fruit. Such an event negates one annoyance at least. The middle autumnal period continued to be dry, with a mild to warm temperature which began to impact vintage in early March as all varieties readied for an early harvest. Our intake was regular and moderated with a good progression from early whites to late reds boasting dry, warm conditions throughout. 2020 is yet another vintage from Western Australia with little complaint as we empathised with our eastern state colleagues, so ravaged by wild fires. In summary, the vintage is very good yet slow to show its true potential .. later reds such as Shiraz show good depth of flavour, good perfume, fine tannin and poise.
“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 15% whole bunch to elevate spice aromatics.
“Sourced from Frankland River and Mount Barker, this is a quintessential cool climate Shiraz. The array of fruit present in the glass remains fresh and tart, rather than jammy. A fine acidity tempers the broad, rich flavours and textures on the palate. Notes of Black Doris plum, blueberry, mulberry, clove, allspice, violet, and hoisin sauce create an integrated and appealing nose. The palate is supple and smooth, filled with the same briary berries found in the bouquet. Blue and black berries roll across the tongue providing depth of flavour and plush texture while grippy tannin provides structure and length. Classic Great Southern acidity and minerality on the palate are complemented by a charry, spicy note coming from the oak influence. A wonderful option for pairing with lamb kofta or BBQ spare rib. Cellar for a few more years to uncover a softer, more silky side of this wine.”
93 points, Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion “Flint Rock often punches above its weight, as it does this vintage. Full of dark ripe fruit, warming spices and wafts of ferrous, inky and sweet cedar. Fuller bodied with plush tannins and all those flavours come flooding through to a lingering finish.”
91 points, Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front “Granite, dark earth, potpourri, roasted meat. Dark fruit, dark spice. Then the flavours hit the palate with sweetness that also finishes the lot. Ferrous/iodine tension, lightly salty liquorice, washed away with a sea of cocoa powder tannins. Shiraz that is rich, generous with flavour almost curling the tongue. Strong coffee aftertaste and a little lemony residue on the sides. It works.”
RRP $32 **Our Special Price only $24.50 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
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