Made in a similar fashion but from the Great Southern region is the 2008 Scotsdale Shiraz. With a very deep garnet-purple color, it’s scented of cassis, mocha, vanilla, spice and leather. This is a more structured style with medium-firm, tight-knit, fine tannins and a good backbone of high acidity to counter the medium to full bodied flesh. Drink this one 2011 to 2020+.
Jeff Burch established Howard Park in 1986 making Cabernet and Riesling. The well-priced Mad Fish label (listed separately in the Australian Wine Values report) came on board in 1992. They own around 200 ha of their own vineyards and work with 40-45 contract growers sourcing mainly Margaret River and Great Southern fruit. “We don’t believe that every region does every variety very well” Jeff told me. “We look for specific varieties from specific regions throughout Western Australia.” In spite of the sheer volume of wine that is managed at the Margaret River and smaller Denmark facility in Great Southern, the standards are high and at the upper end some superb wines are produced. Two blends of Howard Park Riesling are produced – one designed for immediate release / consumption and one for a bottle-aged ‘Museum’ release. Both are produced from the fruit of 30 year vines, though the Museum Release has more Porongurups fruit, which is said to age better. From the 2005 vintage Howard Park’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is now being bottled under the ‘Abercrombie’ label. This top-of-the-range wine was made from the best barrels traditionally, but from 2001 the same parcels have gone into it – 60-70% Mt Barker and 30-40% Margaret River fruit – so it’s essentially a blend of two single vineyards.
Importer: Lion Nathan USA, Overland Park, KS; Tel: (913) 338-4433; www.howardparkwines.com.au
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