Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 1999
-
Spirits
Wine &
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
- Wine & Spirits
Other Vintages
1998-
Spirits
Wine &
It may sound improbable, but it was a passion for the sea and for riding the wild surf of Western Australia’s remote Margaret River region that led Jeff Burch to discover his affinity for wine. Now serving as the proud owner of Howard Park wines, Jeff and his family aim to craft boutique wines with an uncompromising commitment to quality.
Howard Park is one of Western Australia’s pioneering family-owned wineries, specializing in the state’s premier grape-growing regions of Margaret River and the Great Southern. Encompassing a 30+ year history and overseen by two generations of the Burch family, Howard Park is a multi-regional endeavor which has included the selection, acquisition and development of four exceptional estate vineyards across both regions as well as a winery and Cellar Door in Margaret River.
Howard Park has a very simple mantra when it comes to the production of its wines - premium wine can only come from excellent fruit. Since its foundation Howard Park has held the belief that each variety is best suited to particular climates and soil types within the two premium wine regions of Western Australia, Margaret River and the Great Southern. Howard Park’s Margaret River vineyards (Allingham & Leston) and the winery carry certification from the Winemakers Federation of Australia’s EntWine initiative for environmentally conscious practices. Sustainability is at the very heart of their vineyard management and while not certified, they have carefully chosen organic and biodynamic principles from Australia and overseas, to best cater for each individual vineyard block and their nuances. Chemicals and pesticides are avoided in the Howard Park vineyards, the winemaking facilities are 100% water sufficient, using rainwater collected from the roof for both winery and irrigation needs. Vineyard pests are kept under control by roving guinea fowl and flocks of sheep serve as environmentally friendly weed management.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Quite remote and unequalled in beauty, the wine regions of Westerm Australia promise endless physical and climatic diversity. From the coolest, seaside vineyards to the hottest inland zones, Western Australia is the source of some of the country’s most sought after wines.