Howard Park Miamup Chardonnay 2024
G 94
A Margaret River Chardonnay of this quality for this price? Perhaps there is hope for the world yet. The fruit comes from a selection of vineyards across the region, designed to add complexity to the final wine. The divinities have decreed that Margaret River will never have a poor vintage, but this one was warmer and drier than most. You’d never know from this wine. Generous to a fault, we have beautifully integrated oak and spicy aromas with lemon curd, grapefruit, gentle hints of peaches and touches of ginger. A line of bright acidity runs right through to the lingering finish. The wine is well balanced and extremely attractive. Refined and with laser-like focus, there is no reason it won’t provide pleasure for the next eight to ten years. Drink now–2028 McHenry Hohnen Chloe Rosé Mourvèdre, Grenache 2025 G 94 One of life’s great pleasures is smashing back a Rosé (or two) while listening to waves hit the sand. Especially when it’s the ‘Chloe’. One of Margaret River’s best pink drinks. Freeze-dried strawberries, seashells, rosewater, and a little seasoning of orange zest. Biodynamically grown fruit, with mourvèdre as the dominant grape – and honestly, the best Rosés I’ve ever had in my life have been mourvèdre-led. The palate is bouncy, chewy, and vibrant; the finish walks past with the confidence and grace of someone with high cheekbones and a perfectly symmetrical face. Rude. Drink now–2029 Moss Brothers Fidium Shiraz 2023 G 94 Margaret River Shiraz from an absolutely stellar vintage, and this wine reflects that quality throughout. Maturation was in French oak barriques. The final wine was a barrel selection. Dark maroon/purple in colour; everywhere you look with this wine, the quality of 2023 shines through. The nose gives us aromas of chocolate, cloves, soy, graphite, plums, bay leaves, coffee grinds, warm earth, mulberries and truffles. An absolute cornucopia of flavours throughout. The wine is intense but extremely well balanced and very long. It finishes with fine, slightly powdery tannins and should drink beautifully for the next ten to twelve years. A really impressive Shiraz from a region which doesn’t always value the variety as it should. Delicious. Drink now–2037
Margaret River 2026
37
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