2009 Howard Park Riesling Reviews

“...contains 50/50 Mount Barker and Porongurups fruit. It is still very youthful and tight with a restrained, slightly closed nose of lemon-lime, lemongrass and chalk dust. The medium bodied palate is dry, very crisp and taut with a long, steely finish.”

91 Points
David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate - 01-11-2010

“'Best of the Best' Exceedingly pale colour; citrus blossom aromas announce aninitially mouth-puckering (in the best possible way) palate, opening quickly toreveal a zesty lime and mineral range of flavors; the acid profile promises avery long life.”

96 Points
James Halliday, 2011 Australian Wine Companion - 11-08-2010

“Beautiful example of style showing bright, spicy florals on the nose and filling the mouth with lots of zippy lime juice flavours that have great depth and persistence. Lovely minerality. ”

Best of the West Tasting, Winestate - 20-05-2010
Full Review

“The intensity, purity and body of the best of the eastern states resides here within the tighter less floral WA style. Will hold for 6 - 8 years. A great wine. Very pleasurable drinking.”

ROBERT GEDDES MW, Australian Wine Vintages 2010 - 01-04-2010
Full Review

“Delightfully presented release with crisp, lingering lemon flavours and sharp acidity.”

JOHN FORDHAM, The Sunday Telegraph - 14-02-2010

“A particularly alluring Howard Park Riesling, laced with lychees, apples and candied lemon rind. It's shot with a zesty lemon juice streak, keeping it fresh and lively and guaranteeing a long life. An enjoyable aperitif style with a subtle touch of residual sweetness to round out the finish.”

92 Points
TYSON STELZER, WINE 100 - 01-02-2010
Full Review

“Pretty smelling wine - apple blossom, green apple, a slight spice and slatiness...and if you concentrate (or use your imagination) you might smell something like aniseed. There's some citrus flavours on a crisp, crunchy and juicy palate that comes over as being gentle rather than austere - although it's in no way a big wine. Slightly grippy textured finish. Good now and over the medium term. Drink 2010 - 2017.”

92 Points
GARY WALSH, The Wine Front - 10-01-2010
Full Review

“They have done it again. I've made this point about Australian Riesling previously but I do believe it is the most likely variety to come close to perfection. Taking that thought a step further; the Howard Park Riesling 2009 is that close to this idea of perfection it is not funny. The 2007 vintage was our best Riesling back in the year of vintage, the brilliance of the 2008 vintage ensured the follow-up nudged that same bar of quality. Of course no-one should be surprised. These guys have been making this wine for 25 years, it emanates from the wonderful Great Southern region of WA, a region challenged only by the best of Clare Valley for the perfect (there's that word again) spot to grow this variety. The new release 2009 is a throwback to the style of the 2007. It teases with the merest hint of tropical fruit (a character young examples of this wine have always shown) before smacking you with a citrus crunch of lemon and lime and if you sniff it for as long as I did, some grapefruit and pear. The perfection continues in the mouth where these beautiful characteristics are balanced with a no-beg-your-pardon mouth-puckering acidity that leaves you doing all sorts of tricks with your mouth and tongue, again as previous vintages have done! Three 'Exceptional' ratings in a row from me, I can't think of the last time a wine of any colour or creed did that!”

BERT WERDEN, www.Winestar.com.au - 01-01-2010
Full Review

“This rates among the very best rieslings I've tasted all year. It has freshness, crispness, pristine fruit and the potential to age. Released a few months later than many of its contemporaries, this wine from the Great Southern of Western Australia straddles the territory between delicacy and intensity with brilliant fresh lime juice flavours and zingy acid on the palate...worth snapping up to enjoy with summer seafood dishes.”

WINSOR DOBBIN, www.winsordobbin.com.au - 21-12-2009
Full Review

“Floral, pretty and very fresh, even a touch salty. There was no need to acidify in this vintage because it was a mild summer and, with no disease pressure around harvest, the fruit is very pure. It shows a clean pair of heels on a racy finish.”

SARAH AHMED, The Wine Detective - 01-12-2009
Full Review

“Fragrant with lemon and sherbet aromas. Initially, the palate looked quite tight save for the occasional whisper of delicate lime blossom and rose water but with time in the glass and a rise in temperature, came out of its shell to reveal juicy citrus flavours. But while the palate might shift in its seat a little, the wine's core of tightly wound acid was staying put. A major part of the wine's appeal, bursts of memorable and long lasting acidity left the mouth refreshed and primed for more Great Southern greatness. Even for the typically tight-on-release Howard Park Riesling, this looks quite austere at present but when I think about that finely tuned engine of fine acidity purring away beneath the hood...Could well go down as one of Howard Park's best ever rieslings. Don't be deceived by the score, it's still young now and I'm setting the baseline a touch low to give the wine 'nuff space in years to come to stretch its legs and flaunt what Mama Nature gave it. ”

17.5 Points
MAX VEENHUYZEN, www.acehighwine.com - 01-11-2009
Full Review