2004 Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon Reviews

“Dense dark red to black colour. The aroma is intense and rich, led by the ripest cassis and berry fruits. Behind the primary fruits are distinctive vineyard characteristics of dark chocolate and mint. The oak is background cedar which will recede further as the fruits emerge with some bottle age. The Leston vineyard consistently produces an intense, fleshy and full mid-palate cabernet with massive fruit weight and dark cherry and blackcurrant flavours.”

, Winestate Magazine - 04-02-2008
Full Review

“Attractive subtle, porty notes on the nose. Tight, dusty palate with strong drying tannins well integrated with varietal fruit flavours.”

, Winestate Magazine - 29-01-2008
Full Review

“Attractive subtle, porty notes on the nose. Tight, dusty palate with strong drying tannins well integrated with varietal fruit flavours.”

Best Wines of 2007, Winestate Magazine - 01-01-2008
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“As good as any young Howard Park Cabernet I have tasted, this is a veritable assault of crunchy red currants, tomato leaf, capsicum and spice. With time it builds to black currant concentration, never wavering from its air of elegant poise. Brilliant, razor-edged palate definition and delightfully fine tannins.”

95 Points
Tyson Stelzer, WBM100 - 01-11-2007
Full Review

“Elegant, stylish and tightly crafted, this balanced and firmish cabernet has an intense bouquet of slightly meaty and gamey dark plum, blackberry and cassis-like aromas overlying sweet cedary oak and nuances of mint, mineral and dried herbs. Long, supple and deeply flavoured, its handsomely oaked and sumptuous palate is intermeshed with a firm spine of drying bony tannins.”

93 Points
Jeremy Oliver, 2008 Wine Annual - 01-09-2007
Full Review

“Deep, dark plummy fruitcake stuff; smells really dense. There?s complex flake tobacco and currant too, which builds the longer the wine sits in the glass. Attacks with really slick, dark berries, building chewy tannin and lovely, pippy, tangy stuff. Has sweet-savoury, prosciutto-like characters too and forceful cabernet sauvignon tannin. Needs slopping about a bit if you want to enjoy it young. Otherwise stash it for 6 years.”

Tim White, Australian Financial Review - 08-12-2006
Full Review

“The 2004 ?Leston? Cabernet Sauvignon (is) superb value. Its opaque purple colour is impressive as is the ripe, sweet, and layered blue fruit flavours. The tannins are ripe and there is enough structure for 6-8 years of aging. It should drink well for 10-15 years thereafter.”

90 Points
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate - 01-12-2006
Full Review

“Fresh and juicy with deep menthols and berries, this Margaret River red is very attractive and vibrant to behold but then you get more for your money with a meaty side, prominent oak and lots of flavour concentration on the palate. A regional flag-waver.”

Tony Love, The Advertiser Magazine, South Australia - 01-11-2006
Full Review

“These vines unquestionably are reaching maturity to deliver really good fruit. This is just about the best yet under this label. Power and elegance with firm ripe tannins, nice oak treatment and intense fruit concentration.”

91 Points
Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan?s Guide to Wine 2006/2007 - 01-11-2006
Full Review

“A peak vintage for this well-priced Margaret River cabernet. Deep, sensuous and layered, it has a wealth of chocolate and dark-berry aromas and flavours, neatly infused oak and fine-grained tannins.Best now to 2020.”

94 Points
Huon Hooke, Good Living, Sydney Morning Herald - 12-09-2006
Full Review

“Each year, Howard Park bottles a shiraz and a cabernet from its Great Southern (Scotsdale) and Margaret River (Leston) vineyards. My favourite from the 2004 vintage is this intensely blackcurranty, firm but elegant cabernet.”

Max Allen, The Weekend Australian Magazine - 15-07-2006
Full Review

“Ruby-red. Powerful, densely packed red and dark fruit aromas verge on liqueur-like but also show energizing herb and fresh tobacco tones. Huge, dense and powerful, with imploded flavours of bitter cherry, singed plum, crème de cassis, licorice candy, espresso and exotic tobacco. With air, this concentrated monster offered brighter red fruit tones. With its powerful tannic structure and deep, almost inky flavours, this is built for the cellar. It?s also a remarkable bargain for the patient collector.”

90 Points
Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 14-07-2006
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“Faint whiffs of Cherry Ripe and fruit cake from a somewhat subdued nose. Silky smooth fruit-driven palate lingers for a long time.”

, Winestate - 01-07-2006
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“Epic, mouth-arresting tannins scream out for a long time to integrate and allow the lingering red cherry and leaf flavours to come into their own. A great vintage with a lot of potential in the cellar.Best drinking around 2014 - 2019”

92 Points
Tyson Stelzer, www.tysonstelzer.com - 01-01-2006
Full Review