Flametree SRS Chardonnay 2024
G 97
Blossoming wattle, silver fern and blush nectarine. Hot tin, beeswax and grated nutmeg. There is a mosaic of spring flowers and shrubbery, all whilst being held by almond flour and oatmeal aromas. Acidity is elegant beyond measure, no squeaks or shrill points, just an effortless flow of refreshing citrus. Oak supports the buoyant fruit by cradling it, supportive yet cuddly and soft. So is Cliff Royale’s mastery in the balancing act of texture, line and poise. Some lemongrass and pine nut creaminess on the finish. This business here is all in the detail, the right touch points of building power and maintaining the energy line. A glamour in all senses of the word, this will start your heart a-flutter. Once again, it’s a steal for the price. Drink now or will cellar for another six to eight years. Save this wine for when you get that winning crayfish catch. Drink now–2033 Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet 2023 G 97 The 2023 vintage sees the 34th release of Howard Park’s flagship Cabernet, named after Jeff Burch’s great grandfather, Walter Abercrombie. To be honest, I’m not sure they’ve made a better one in all that time. This wine sits comfortably with the very best Cabernets from Margaret River. A wine of balance, exceptional length, impressive structure and deceptive power, this will be drinking superbly for many years to come. An opaque magenta hue with a purple rim, the use of quality oak and its first-class integration makes an immediate impression. The wine exhibits all the power and intensity of the Leston Cabernet, but with extra refinement. On the nose, we have notes of plums and chocolate with tobacco leaves, mulberries, graphite, black cherries, smoked meats and dried herbs. Elegance meets power. This is beautifully balanced and well-focused, with the intensity maintained on the very long finish through to the silkiest of tannins. But strip away any artifice here, and it is the gorgeous fruit which carries the day. Enjoy this over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2028–2045
Margaret River 2026
23
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