Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Margaret River

Details

Abercrombie has been in the Langton’s classification since the year 2000. It is tiered as ‘Outstanding’ - the best of Australian winemaking practices, vineyard provenance and regional voice.
Awarded 3 Merits by The Real Review - Iconic wines of the country, wines of true provenance and exemplary track record. Fewer than 0.5% of wines produced achieve this tier.


Abercrombie’ Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship wine of Howard Park and now regarded as one of Western Australia's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from the top 1% of available Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, only in years when grapes deemed to be of extraordinarily high quality are available.

A blend of 77% Margaret River and 23% Mount Barker fruit matured in French oak barriques for 20 months. Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Tobacco laced aromas of blackcurrant and mulberry show good intensity followed by dried herb, spicy cedar, black olive and bay leaf notes. Medium to full bodied and blessed with both refinement and richness, the palate is decorated with ripe blackcurrant fruit which is underpinned by vanillin cedar, tobacco, dried herbs and spice. Sturdy structure with fine grained but firm tannins. Concludes with a long aftertaste.
Cellar 8-10 years. Alc. 14%

Reviews
77% from Margaret River, 33% Mount Barker, fermented in various stainless steel formats, matured for 22 months in French barriques (60% new). The oak is of high quality and makes a positive contribution, but you know it will succumb to the sheer intensity of the fruit over the years to come, the tannin balance calculated to the last ounce. The wine's best years are yet to come. Drink by 2041.
96 points James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion


Deepish red colour with the faintest of purple tints. The bouquet is earthy, dusty, cedary and savoury, showing generous oak and a little development, while the finish and aftertaste are also very drying and savoury, a little drying and initially lacking sweet-fruitness and charm. Tobacco and cassis notes came up with airing and the wine needed to be coaxed out of its shell. It begs for a few years in the cellar. 12 MAY 2019 Drink 2022–2039
95 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com.au