2005 Howard Park Riesling Reviews

“?WA?s finest rieslings are most consistently crafted by Howard Park. In some years, for example the 1995 and 1997, Howard Park possibly produced Australia?s greatest riesling and the quality is consistently gold medal standard... The steely and mineral flavoured power and length are packed away behind appealing lime, citrus, spices and rose fragrances and they will ensure this release lives and develops brilliantly until at least 2020.”

John Jens, Western Suburbs Weekly - 01-02-2008
Full Review

“?However, it was the outstanding, newly released and still very young Howard Park Leston Vineyard Cabernet (18.3 points and $35.75) that topped this bracket for me. It is certainly the finest and most sophisticated wine under this label to date and was just a whisker ahead of the Scotsdale label (18.2 points and also $37.75). These are great value when compared to their quality peers.”

John Jens, Western Suburbs Weekly - 04-09-2007
Full Review

“Banana and honey aromas. An easy drinking wine with a short citrus finish. Up to three years.”

New World Riesling Panel, Decanter Magazine - UK - 01-06-2007
Full Review

“This has always been one of the best from the west, a genuine challenger to the finest from Clare and Eden Valley, and this latest release is on song. A few years? age won?t hurt ? you can expect hints of honey to start creeping in. Serious riesling.”

Stuart Gregor, Don?t Buy Wine Without Me 2007 - 01-01-2007
Full Review

“Lovely nose ? smells of five spices and ginger. Great persistence of intense, zesty citrus flavours ? slightly sweet but has the acid to balance it.”

Winestate Tasting Panel, Winestate Annual 2007 - 01-01-2007
Full Review

“Bright, crisp lemon aromas with an orange blossom edge. Full, tight palate with great intensity of delicious lemon/lime flavours. Has a lovely cleansing acid finish.”

Winestate Panel, Winestate Magazine - 01-11-2006
Full Review

“?Australia?s offering is from a leading Riesling estate, a suitably cool year and from one of the country?s best Riesling spots, Western Australia?s top Great Southern area. Stainless steel and the finest free-run juice complete the picture, and ? hey presto! ? a splendid, juicy, yet steely, floral, kerosene and lime-zest-spiked Riesling with a lovely, long, tingly finish.”

Jane MacQuitty, The Times - UK - 01-11-2006
Full Review

“Riesling is beginning to get more play in Western Australia as producers reach well south of Margaret River into the Great Southern region, a cool area that benefits from the marine influence of the nearby Southern Ocean. The young rieslings of this region are almost always fermented bone dry and deliver engaging acidity along with a strong lime/citrus personality and palpable minerality. The Howard Park is easily one of the finest of an exceptional vintage from this part of the world.”

93 Points
Robert Whitely, www.whitelyonwine.com - 01-10-2006
Full Review

“?Howard Park Rieslings age superbly, gaining layers of complexity without losing their character. The 2005 has intensely fragrant, almost pungent aromas of lime, herb and a touch of lemon zest; the palate has great concentration and focus, flooded with lime juice, yet is in no way heavy. The long finish is indicative the wine will gain yet more complexity for 10 years and retain its peak of perfection for at least another decade after that.”

96 Points
James Halliday, The Weekend Australian - 15-07-2006
Full Review

“The Howard Park team are well aware of their growing reputation for crispness in their premium Howard Park riesling range, but winemaker Michael Kerrigan believes that the marvellous fruit quality and the classic ageing potential of the style needs no change. However, the newly released 2005, while having the traditional regal nature, has greater volumes of softer fruit as well ? and is delicious young drinking as well as having 15 years plus potential.”

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

“A dry, crisp offering, it features a nose with slate and mineral aspects, and would make a fine accompaniment to spicy Asian cuisine.”

87 Points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate - 01-02-2006
Full Review

“Both the ?04 and ?05 Howard Park Rieslings are superb with their natural acidity more approachable than before but capable of living for years: pristine, fine, focused varietal characters.”

Peter Forrestal, Sunday Times Magazine - 20-11-2005
Full Review

“Although not in bottle that long, it was showing wonderful fragrant exotic spicy lemon zip on the nose. The palate has a lime and citrus mix with a fine delicate elegance. This is a super wine with great potential. One of the best I have seen from Howard Park.”

93 Points
Ray Jordan, Guide to West Australian Wines 2005-2006 - 01-10-2005
Full Review