By Fergal Gleeson
Howard Park have recently released two wines in their Icon range which represent some of the very best Chardonnay and Cabernet from Margaret River.
Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay 2016
This is a really refined Chardonnay with flavours of white grapefruit, a chalky dryness and the subtle influence of quality oak. Flagship Margaret River Chardonnays are exuberant, sometimes even overpowering in their youth. In using fruit from the south facing slopes of the cooler Karridale sub region, Janice McDonald has fashioned a more elegant expression.
Much of Allingham’s limited production is consumed at 40,000 feet by Emirates First Class travellers, which is why Allingham is a little less known than some other Margaret River top shelf Chardonnays. However you can enjoy on terra firma, without the jetlag, from the Howard Park website.
RRP $89 Rating 4.5 stars
Howard Park Abercrombie 2014
Now in it’s 31st vintage, Abercrombie is an iconic Australian Cabernet. Janice McDonald talks about “perfume” and “poise” when describing her vision of great Cabernet. It’s all here- fruit, integrated tannins, tobacco and cigar box flavours wrapped in a silky texture. Abercrombie finishes with a savoury twist to get the saliva going. Interestingly the 2014 uses the fruit from a single block in the Leston Vineyard in Margaret River.
Convention would say that you should cellar a Cabernet of this this quality for at least a decade. Your taste buds will tell you that this wine drinks beautifully now. Both are correct.
Allingham and Abercrombie reflect the wine maker’s confidence to make iconic wines that reveal their quality through their refinement rather than by a show of power. They are comfortable in their own skin and take their place amongst the best from the region.
RRP $135 Rating 5 Stars
More at www.burchfamilywines.com.au
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