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: “This wine is part of Howard Park’s Distinguished Sites range. Shiraz from the Leston vineyard, located in the heart of Margaret River is
crafted to highlight the distinctive varietal and regional qualities of our best sites. The expression of Shiraz from this temperate region combines the ripeness and opulence of a warm climate with the spice and elegance of more typical of cooler ones.
“The wine was blended from a selection of the best batches of Shiraz grown on the Leston vineyard, which is located in the Willyabrup locale of Margaret River. The soils in this vineyard are shallow lateritic gravels over sandy, clay loam.
“Small parcels were hand-picked and all batches were sorted to remove matter other than grapes, before fermentation. Fermentation occured in open vat and closed stainless steel fermenters. Select parcels of wine were run to barrel between 2 & 3º Baume to capture new barrel characters from the final degrees of fermentation. The remaining blocks were pressed at dryness to retain fruit vibrancy. Each batch was matured separately in order to build a wine history over time. The wine was matured for 18 months in new (~ 25%) and older French oak barriques, hogsheads and puncheons. After blending to tank the wine was lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling.
“The 2020 vintage is very good yet slow to show its true potential. Early varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay show good varietal purity, with subtle, lasting flavours and the later reds such as Shiraz show good depth of flavour, good perfume, fine tannin and poise.
“Glistening, deep ruby in hue, this wine reveals a captivating fusion of red and black fruits, adorned with hints of dried herbs, warm earth and undertones of subtle spice. Macerated strawberry, Satsuma plum, dried orange peel and dark red cherry intertwine with sarsaparilla, wet mint, sage, white pepper, and hints of savoury grilled meat. The palate unfurls with velvety softness, moving gracefully, guided by a fine acidity and powdery tannin profile. A harmonious composition of finesse and depth, this wine invites contemplation with its elongated finish filled with lingering impressions of red berries. A testament to modern craftsmanship, this Margaret River Shiraz achieves a rare equilibrium, inviting connoisseurs to savour its refined and elegant expression.”
95 points, Ray Jordan “This comes from Margaret River in what was a very short sharp vintage that produce fruit of great intensity. Aromas of dark plum and blackberry with a lift of red cherry and strawberry strike a complex maze. There’s a light lift of cola helping to bring further life. The palate is still quite tight with the savoury tannins and dried herb influence balancing the ripe fruit. First rate wine.”
RRP $41 *Our Special Price $33.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine*
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