2002 Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Notes

2002 was a classical vintage in the South-West of Western Australia. A generally cooler vintage than 2001, it resulted in wines of greater elegance and fine tannin. The wines demonstrate cool climate spices and herbal characters rather than overt fruit.
This wine is sourced entirely from Howard Park’s Leston Vineyard in Margaret River. Canopy management is designed to maximise fruit exposure to the sunlight and yields are low to achieve concentration in the grapes. The grapes are harvested according to flavour with little regard for analytical data. Fermentation occurs in open topped stainless steel tanks with highly aerative pumpovers that are integral in tannin development.
The Cabernet Sauvignon is given some 15 days on skins after completion of fermentation to further develop the tannin profile prior to going to French oak barriques; 75% new, 25% 1 year old. The wine was matured in the barrel for approximately 18 months. There was minimal fining and filtration performed.

Dark blood red with youthful purple hues. The essential vineyard character is immediately expressed on the nose with ripe, rich berry fruits and dark cooking chocolate aromas. These characters flow well into the palate backed up with firm tannin.
This is classical Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon from the heart of the Willyabrup sub-region.

Considerable ageing potential.