2003 Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Reviews

“A marvellously elegant and stylish wine showing the impeccable breeding of this distinguished line. Silky smooth palate with perfectly integrated oak and fruit, with fine firmish tannins. Classy wine for the medium to long term.”

94 Points
Ray Jordan, Western Australia's Guide to Wine 2006/2007 - 31-01-2008
Full Review

“Smooth blackcurrant fruit nose is quite stylish: it?s fresh with some chocolatey richness. The palate is concentrated, dense and smooth with lovely spiciness and well integrated oak. Still youthful and primary with firm tannic structure. Should be a long-lived wine.”

94 Points
Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak - 30-11-2007
Full Review

“Chocolaty bouquet with earthy notes. Palate has developed cigar box oak and sweet , ripe red fruits nicely held together by a firm, tannic backbone.”

Winestate Panel, Winestate Magazine - 01-08-2007
Full Review

“Just glorious were my first impressions. Complex, alluring and vibrant were words that followed. A stunning red wine, well blended, well presented and well delivered in all dimension. Intense with ripe blackcurrants, raspberries, smooth plums all with a purity and elegance to them. Slightly smoky nuances, hints of black liquorice, cedary as well as cigar box oak in sync, integrated well and with silky fine tannins. A wine with power yet also elegance and structure. Approachable now, delicious in fact, very drinkable but with the goods to deliver pleasurable drinking well into the future.Drink now to 2018.”

94 Points
Paul Ippolito, Web Wombat - 17-07-2007
Full Review

“An even better colour than the ?04; more powerful texture and structure, tannins to the fore; no velvet glove, just fist, demanding patience; great length. Drink: To 2028.”

95 Points
James Halliday, 2008 Australian Wine Companion - 01-07-2007
Full Review

“Winning the trophy for best red at the 2007 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is some achievement. This is elegant, neatly balanced, with redcurrant and cassis flavours and fine harmonious tannins.”

Peter Forrestal, Sunday Times Magazine - 10-06-2007
Full Review

“Silken textured and seductive, this beautifully mulberried, leathered, curranty wine is a picture of elegance and control. Barely more than medium weight, and yet 100 percent satisfying, it smells of ripe, dark, summer fruits, its cedary, chocolatey, 100 percent new French oak admirably embedded in the wine. It becomes increasingly enjoyable, and impressive, the longer it rests in the glass. It is a beautiful blend of cabernet and merlot. Drink: 2008-2014.”

92 Points
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 01-12-2006
Full Review

“Since the middle eighties, Howard Park?s Great Southern-based Cabernet range has been the company?s most expensive and flagship wine. They are very proud of many of the vintages including the 2001 which has received critical acclaim both locally and internationally.Well, that?s all in the past as on our cards the soon to be released 2003 is the best in years. The wine has placid fruit of great power that has both subtlety and suppleness and while it can be drunk as early as 2007, it too will improve for 15 years ? if allowed.”

John Jens, Western Suburbs Weekly - 20-06-2006
Full Review