By Fergal Gleeson
Howard Park
Howard Park was founded in 1986 when John Wade, left a prestigious post as Chief Winemaker at Wynn’s Coonawarra to establish the winery in Great Southern.
He was passionate about the potential of this then obscure wine region. It started modestly with just two wines, a Riesling and a Cabernet, made in a shed.
Jeff and Amy Burch joined 7 years later and Howard Park has expanded with vineyards in Margaret River and Great Southern. The range has grown to include the iconic Allingham Chardonnays and Abercrombie Cabernets, the internationally awarded Jeté sparkling wines and the everyday value of the MadFish label.
Burch Family Wines have also created the interesting Marchand and Burch brand which features wines from Burgundy and Great Southern. They are worth looking out for.
More Where That Came From
The Rieslings are the first release of these extensively aged back vintage wines. They are available to Wine Club Members, selected restaurants and at Cellar door.
I’ve also been given a ‘sneak preview’ of some other releases coming soon which will include back vintage Abercrombie Cabernets and it’s precursors. The Abercrombie 2014 from a celebrated vintage is coming along nicely.
Howard Park 1995 Cabernet Merlot at 25+ years is still showing a lovely core of blackcurrant fruit and vanillin oak. The older reds were recorked and topped in 2009. They are a delight. Back vintages from the Leston and Scotsdale labels and the premium Chardonnays will follow later in the year.
At their Margaret River Cellar door, Howard Park will typically have two museum wines on rotation for customers to taste and they are upgrading their Cellar Door in the coming months to allow for wine tasting flights and smaller group tastings which can be prebooked.
These releases offer a great insight into the joy of drinking well cellared old wines, without the need for extraordinary patience!
Howard Park have put together a special offer for Marque readers- a Riesling 3 pack featuring the 2018, 2009 and 2005 Rieslings at $115 including delivery.
If you’d like to enquire about this offer or other back vintages of Howard Park wines, you can contact David Stretwick by phone on 08 9756 5200 or email mailorder@hpw.com.au
You can keep up to date with cellar door news or the latest release of museum wines by becoming a wine club member.
From Marque Magazine
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