2002 Howard Park Scotsdale 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 from only the highest regarded vineyards and is given extraordinary attention in the vineyard; 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.

Crimson red, the Scotsdale has less of the purple hues of the Leston and looks immediately a more mature wine. The nose is striking; earthy, dusty, brambly characters backed up by blackberry and cassis fruits. Less overtly fruity than the Leston, this wine has layers of complexing aromas.
The palate is intense – with greater concentration than the 2001 vintage, cassis flavours with cedary oak influences of great length.
The textural complexity of this wine is typical of old vine Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt Barker.

Considerable ageing potential.