2005 Howard Park 'Abercrombie' Cabernet Sauvignon Reviews

“This is a stunningly good cabernet, the best vintage yet of the Howard Park flagship. Over the years, its composition has changed both in terms of its grape varieties and its regional make-up. Called Abercrombie ?a Burch family name? from this vintage, it is ultra-concentrated with ripe blackcurrant, black cherry and brambly flavours with a hint of tobacco leaf, all impeccably balanced with fine sweet tannins. It's multi-layered, complex, elegant and plush.”

Peter Forrestal, Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine - 01-12-2009
Full Review

“One of WA's finest producers, this Great Southern/Margaret River blend of 97% cabernet sauvignon, 2% merlot and 1% cabernet franc is absolutely world class, with its discreet cedar and blackcurrant aromas and powerful yet perfectly balanced and structured palate. Will age effortlessly."One of WA's finest producers?this Great Southern/Margaret River blend is absolutely world class...”

Philip Rich, Australian Financial Review Magazine - 01-11-2009
Full Review

“?A complex offering with an amalgam of red and black fruits and plenty of cedar and black olive to add to the picture; the palate is full-bodied, but not heavy, and exhibits plenty of enticing sweet fruit backed up by seriously fine tannins; very long and quite profound. Definitely a cerebral cabernet.Drink to 2025.?”

95 Points
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 - 01-08-2009
Full Review

“Mulberry, cassis and roast-meat aromas; properly ripe, with smart oak. It's smooth and intense in the mouth with supple but persuasive tannins. The underlying concentration is impressive”

95 Points
Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller Wine - 22-04-2009
Full Review

“First produced by John Wade in 1986, this wine attained cult status in its first decade. It is a world-class red, which has never looked better and may challenge the established superstars for a spot at the pinnacle. This is uber-concentrated, brooding brambly flavours, complex, multilayered and elegant.”

Peter Forrestal, The Sunday Times Magazine - 15-03-2009
Full Review

“A new brand name but the same great Howard Park cabernet. It has terrific concentration and great elegance. Aromas of mulberry, cassis, charcuterie and roast meats, with tight palate structure and supple but abundant tannins.Now to 20 years.”

95 Points
Huon Hooke, The Sydney Morning Herald - 10-03-2009
Full Review

“This is the Howard Park Cab that we know and love... with a name change. But this is still one of the greatest wines ever produced by this estate. It's a seamless assemblage of delightfully pure and persistent Great Southern and Margaret River fruit and will live for decades.”

96 Points
Tyson Stelzer, WBM 100 - 31-01-2009
Full Review

“A complex offering with an amalgam of red and black fruits and plenty of cedar and black olive to add to the picture; the palate is full-bodied, but not heavy, and exhibits plenty of enticing sweet fruit backed up by seriously fine tannins; very long and quite profound. Definitely a cerebral cabernet.Drink to 2025.”

95 Points
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion - 28-01-2009
Full Review

“It's something of a classic cut and thrust wine of the old school with nothing over done. It has fairly subtle oak with just a lick of vanilla over mulberry and mixed berries, wet cement and gum leaf. Just medium bodied but with firm tannin and impeccable structure... After being open a day it filled out and lengthened some more. All good signs. Those used to the more modern richer, bigger style of Howard Park may be taken by surprise, but the classicists may well be delighted. I think it?s a wine for the future.”

92 Points
Gary Walsh, www.winefront.com.au - 14-01-2009
Full Review

“Howard Park Cabernet is a favourite and I love the modern era of it - the 2004 is a stunner... This release doesn?t have the 2004?s power. It?s more a wine of elegance. It tastes of blackcurrant and mulberry and dried tobacco, with quality French oak whispering insistently throughout. There are eucalypt-like tips and autumn leaf-like notes that so characterise Howard Park?s top cabernet. And it has decent length. Walsh and I tasted this separately and it turned out we?d fallen on the exact same rating.”

92 Points
Campbell Mattinson, www.winefront.com.au - 14-01-2009
Full Review