Houghton Clone Among those was Dr John Ferguson of Houghton Vineyard, who reportedly sourced his vinestock from Leschenault and South Australia. In addition to his Swan River vineyard near Perth, his property on the banks of the Preston River, near present day Bunbury, comprised 14 acres and a large fruit garden. The Houghton clone of cabernet sauvignon, which has played a significant impact on the character and identity of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon; however, it is generally thought to be of South African origin. Although difficult to fully disprove, I think the provenance is quite different. There is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest the first cabernet sauvignon cuttings and Houghton material came to Western Australia from the east coast. There is also further mystery surrounding the original source of cuttings. Although it is certain they derived from 1950s plantings at Houghton Vineyard, Jack Mann said that this vineyard was planted with cuttings from the 1930s Frenchman’s Block vineyard. No one knows its whereabouts, or who the Frenchman was. Although the provenance is challenged, the Houghton clone of cabernet sauvignon has played a massive part in the development of the Margaret River. Every important estate in this wine region possesses this material, much of it sourced and shared between vignerons. Although Western Australia has larger plantings of SA125, and smaller plantings of newer French clones, the Houghton clone stands out as something quite special. I believe that it could derive from vinestock material originally planted by William Macarthur at Camden, via South Australia and Leschenault, or directly. Much like the Reynell Selection of South Australia, the Houghton clone is of low vigour and produces low-yielding fruit with very small berries. This translates to wines of beautiful aromatic complexity, very good density, fine-grained tannins, and tension. Gingin Clone Margaret River’s Gingin clone chardonnay is also steeped in 19th century origins and can be traced back to plantings in Meursault, via California. The Vintage Journal ’s Leeuwin Estate eJournal explores this story in more
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