2024 Howard Park Leston Shiraz

With wines like this, one wonders why Margaret River Shiraz seems to lurk in the shadows, always taking second place to Cabernet. Given the quality of Cabernet from the region, I guess it is not that hard to fathom, but this is a stunning wine deserving of love and affection from anyone who enjoys top-notch red wine. It has already picked up a number of trophies, deservedly so, and comes from the spectacular 2023 vintage. It hails from Blocks 4 and 17 in the Leston Vineyard, which provides their best Shiraz fruit. The wine enjoys 10% whole bunch fermentation, and 30% of the oak used for maturation was new. An inky maroon/purple colour, the nose reveals notes of plums, chocolate, cassis, black fruits and smoked meats. There is exceptional balance here, with freshness, energy and focus. A medium weight style with a seductive texture and amazing length, it is purple fruits to the fore here. A cracking Shiraz which will provide pleasure for at least the next two decades.

Spice- and fruit-driven aromas of dark cherries, blood plums, crushed stones, spices, graphite and purple flowers. The palate is rounded with a creamy texture and silky tannins. 10% whole-bunch fermentation with wild yeast leads to a really balanced and complex shiraz. Delicious. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Deep crimson. Intense ripe blackberry pastille, espresso, dark chocolate aromas with aniseed notes. Generous, blackberry pastille, black olive, panforte flavours, chalky fine tannins and underlying marzipan. Finishes cedary with aniseed notes. Lovely purity and torque. A very fine example of Margaret River Shiraz.

What’s pleasing about this is that it’s aromatic and savoury on the palate. Win, win. Florals, dark spices, black fruits, fruit pastilles and lots of nutty oak. It’s fuller bodied, and there’s a give to the tannins, even if they’re gritty and plentiful with pops of ripe fruit coming through, too.

One of the most beautiful and prettiest shiraz from this vineyard in Margaret River. It’s so smooth and seamless with a high degree of polish that shows quality of fruit and sympathetic winemaking. On the nose, an intensity of blackberry and red fruits and then a palate which shows more spiciness with the red fruits more evident, and it all contributes to a certain plush lusciousness with a thread of ripe tannins giving it that textural feel.

Blueberry, bramble, violet, sweet spice – excellent intensity and fragrance. Floury tannin, juicy black fruit. Moderate length but plenty of youthful fruit that will age well.