Scotsdale was acquired by Howard Park as a pastoral property, specifically chosen and planted to make a single vineyard wine. Shiraz is harvested according to flavour with little regard for analytical data. Fruit is vinified in open top fermenters and gently hand plunged, integral to tannin development and flavour extraction, gently basket pressed to French oak barriques for completion of ferment, followed by extended maturation. Scotsdale 2000 was crowned by trophy at the Divine State of Origin, vintage 2004 claimed gold at the prestigious Great Australian Shiraz Challenge.

An assemblage of the best parcels from the Lange vineyard in Frankland River, established in the late 1990s. Howard Park's Scotsdale property is located at the foothills of the ancient Porongurup range. At 200 to 380 metres above sea level, it is among the highest vineyard sites in all Western Australia. The soils are lateritic gravelly/sandy loams over granite, yields are quite low, the vines are fastidiously maintained and gingerly nurtured with extraordinary attention to detail. Dividends arrive in the form of the most exceptional vintages to be found anywhere in the Australian west.

It's not every year that Howard Park release a pure Merlot wine, the most exceptional pickings are only ever set aside in the finest vintages for a special edition, when the harvest shines with opulence of fruit character, long, powerful flavours and seamless, satin tannins. Fermented to dryness for optimal expression of Margaret River savouryness, treated to an extended term of eighteen months French oak, the palate is a symphony bursting with berry complexities, dark chocolates and cedary, vanilla spice, all rounded out by the elegance of soft, silky Merlot tannins.

Leston Vineyard was Howard Park's first Margaret River property, established 1996 to a bucolic sheep farm which bords Wilyabrup Creek. This is the heart of Margaret River viticulture, a place of salubrious sandy soils and temperate, maritime climes. Hand picked Shiraz from Blocks 4 and 17 are treated to completion of ferments and eighteen months maturation in a high proportion of new French oak puncheons, hogsheads and barriques. An opulent style, seasoned by ginger, anise and tradewind spice, dressed in a lycra of chewy, liquorice tannins.

Howard Park is always the result of the most stringent selection criteria all the way from vineyard to bottle, only the finest fruit and most perfect ferments are included. Extremely high quality parcels of fruit were identified on the vine, two harvests of Great Southern and Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, assembled alongside a small block of exceptional Pemberton Merlot.

Howard Park's Great Southern vineyards again yielded a harvest of the most richly textured Cabernet Sauvignon, providing the structural backbone. A choice parcel from Margaret River has made a splendid contribution without dominating. Long, long, long! An elegant savoury wine with excellent structure, smells of cassis and cedar oak, luscious and appetising in the mouth, resolves on a finish of dusty herb tannins, lip smacking jube flavours and dulcetly perfumed oak.

Outstanding Langtons Classification. Abercrombie is the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon of Howard Park, noted for its outstanding structure, elegance and complexity. Abercrombie combines the austere dusty earth and blackcurrant aromas from Mount Barker, with the classic rich fruit and chocolate palette of Margaret River. Together they produce an elegantly balanced Cabernet wine with ripe, mature tannins backed up by quality French oak. Produced from the top 1% of fruit and only ever made in years when grapes of extraordinarily high quality are harvested.

The Wisdom range draws on the deep knowledge and wise words of one of the nation's founding winemakers, the late great Jack Mann, who asserted that you can exist without wine but you cannot live! Wisdom is vinified from some of the finest parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon to be found in Margaret River. A sensational construct of west coast Cabernet, by one of the new world's most monumental winemakers. Enjoy alongside barbecued beef, venison steaks or a red wine and tarragon braise of succulent osso bucco.

Three British Army officers, in their capacity as agents of the East India Company, established one of Western Australia's first agricultural enterprises in 1836. Named after Captain Richmond Houghton, it was not until Thomas Yule's stewardship that vines were planted and the first vintage of Houghton wine flowed in 1859. Thomas Yule now sources fruit from the eminent Justin Vineyard in Frankland River, a dark ruby Shiraz of lifted liquorice and intense brambleberry, seasoned by piquant pepper notes and supported by a length of exceptionally fine tannins.

Houghton have been making wine for as long as many of the old world's great estates. The peerless quality of their fruit, exacting attention to viticulture, uncompromising excellence in vinification and exquisite balance are qualities which set the wines of Houghton apart. Shiraz was one of Houghton's earliest plantings, a succession of notable viticulturalists and winemakers continued the tradition of developing vines and improving the quality of fruit. The Houghton of today can lay claim to the most splendid Shiraz vineyards in Western Australia.

Excellent Langtons Classification. The icon wine of Houghton, from the elite Justin Vineyard at Frankland River, powerful and complex, crafted in dutiful honour of the late Jack Mann, father of Houghton Wines and sage of the Australian wine industry. Jack Mann contributed more to West Australian wine than any one else. He created styles, often way ahead of their time, yet insisted nature was the only true winemaker. From 1922 Mann made fifty one consecutive vintages at Houghton, ever challenging the standards of his day and leading by example.

Oustanding Langtons Classification. Jack Mann was one of Australia's most innovative and influential winemakers. He immersed himself in the single pursuit of producing the most stately wines while at Houghton throughout a half century of memorable vintages. Cuvee Jack Mann is Houghton's finest wine and Western Australia's most iconic Cabernet. Small amounts of peerless quality grapes, an original Houghton clone developed by Jack Mann himself, are hand picked from the very heart of a distinguished vineyard and individually considered for inclusion.

Born at Guildford, very near the Houghton Swan Valley wineworks, Dr John Gladstones was an internationally acclaimed scientist who identified the Margaret River in 1965 as being world class for planting vines and growing grapes. Dr Gladstones also played a role in the development of the Frankland River region, Pemberton and Manjimup. A prolific gold medal winner which honours his contribution to West Australian viticulture, this glorious wine offers a profound structure and generous palate, epitomising the peerlesss quality of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon at its finest.

It was Charles William Ferguson who established Houghton as a national brand and lead the way for Jack Mann to advance West Australian viticulture into a leading global winegrowing region. The most exquisite parcels of Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon are vinified in traditional open top fermenters and filled to a high proportion of new Bordeaux coopered French oak barriques for sixteen months. The inclusion of a large component Malbec makes CW Ferguson a sensationally well rounded Cabernet style, wrapped in a muslin of seamless, velvet tannins.

Frankland River yields remarkable vintages of Shiraz, Houghton were at the very genesis of the region for viticulture, they retain the finest vineyards. A collation of the best parcels from choice sites have been assembled by the Crofters team, treated to vinification in traditional open top vessels, gently pressed to a selection of French oak for completion of ferments and a year of age. Its profound structure and piquantly spiced black currant fruit richness, makes a perfect match with game recipes, well seasoned lamb or freshly ground curry recipes.

Crofters were Scottish tenant farmers who shared the proceeds of harvest with their landlord. Still functional at the Houghton wineworks, is a restored historical homestead of Crofter design. Today, the Houghton team remains at the forefront of viticultural expansion and innovation throughout the premiere winegrowing precincts of Western Australia. It's a well kept secret that Frankland River yields a quality of Cabernet Sauvignon that's world class and second to none. Crofter sings in complete harmony with it's resonant fruit and long delving finish.

The historic Houghton wineworks have been famous for producing regional benchmark wines ever since the inaugural release of 1859. Today, Houghton continues the tradition by consistently delivering award winning efforts of outstanding quality and affable regional charm. The very Australian mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz, collated from some of the finest vineyards in West Australia, is assembled into a generously proportioned, stylishly well rounded and approachable red wine.

A mostly Cabernet wine with a tenth of Merlot, a jot of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, representing almost a third of Hollick's annual production. Previous vintages of Tannery Block have won numerous prestigious awards, including the pre-eminent Jimmy Watson, Robert Bryce and Arthur Kelman Trophies. This uniquely Australian style is fashioned in the tradition of the great Cabernet Merlot accords which have made Coonawarra renowned for red wine throughout the world. So named after the leather tanning pits on the original Hollick property in Coonawarra.

Ravenswood Lane is the link between the Hollick Coonawarra Vineyards, namely the Neilson's Block. First vintaged in 1988, Ravenswood is only released when the wine satisfies the very exacting quality parameters set by the Hollick team. The best parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hollick vineyards are earmarked for Ravenswood, typically the fruit comes from the oldest vines growing in very shallow Terra rossa soil. Released in extremely limited quantities, it stands as an icon Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon of great significance.

A solid Cabernet Sauvignon with profound structure and vigorous fruit, the essential Coonawarra style, exuding rich bramble, berries and cassis aromas characters over soft, elegant tannins. Extended maturation in the finest French oak contributes to the wine's overall balance and drinkability. Driven by quality and a hands on approach, representing almost a third of total Hollick production, it's predecessors have won numerous awards at national competitions, including the highly coveted Jimmy Watson, Robert Bryce and Arthur Kelman Trophies.

The steeply sloping blocks in Upper Yarra Valley, astride Gembrook Rd and adjacent to Hoddles Creek, were designed by the hand of Providence, to yield stellar vintages of world class Pinot Noir. The challenging hillsides prohibit mechanical harvesting, it's all done by hand, except for the treading, laboriously foot stomped. No expenses were ever spared in the construct of the Hoddles Creek cellars, purpose built for the ageing of good red wine. The estate Winery Block and Top Paddock are planted mostly to Pinot Noir clone MV6, with smaller parcels of 114, 115, GSV15 and MS1.

The finest parcels of estate grown fruit, planted to four superior rows of Pinot Noir on the Hoddles Creek property at Gembrook. A holistic management of the vineyard is central to the realization of exceptional fruit, respect for local fauna and a focus on traditonal hands on viticulture are essential to the integrity of harvest. Rows 22 to 26 always yield something spectacular with each new vintage, the mix of Burgundian and new world clones are hand picked and separately vinified for release as an exquisite limited edition, only made in the finest vintage years.

Fruit is sourced from a single vineyard located high on the northern facing slopes of King Valley. The winemaking team taste and assess fruit as it ripens on the vine every few days, to ensure a harvest of optimal ripeness and ideal tannin. Vertically shoot positioned vines and double wire trellising permit maximum penetration of sunlight through the canopy, vital for Durif to develop fully as it requires greater sunlight than other grapes. A brave, mouth filling high country wine to accompany baked pasta, braises and grills.

A very good friend challenged Dean Hewitson to construct the traditional, full bodied Barossa Shiraz, to be drunk young at lunch or at dinner, without straying from the fundamental Hewitson philosophies of French oak, fine grained tannins, perfect balance and profound expression of fruit. The Hewitson loves a challenge and rose to the moment with a delicious, forward drinking old vines Barossa Shiraz, dressed in the finest French oak. Most definitely full bodied, yet has great balance and poise with it's signature drinkability factor.

A profoundly structured, concentrated Rhône style GSM from hand tended vineyards, at the very heart of Barossa which date back to the 1800s. The old, deep rooted Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre vines accept their fate without blinking, perfectly timing their harvest to accompany the later ripening, lower alcohol Carignan and Cinsault, a small yet important part of the Miss Harry accord. These gnarled veterans have seen every poor growing season before and will again, due to their natural affinity for Barossa Valley.

From an elite site between Seaview Ridge and Blewitt Springs in the McLaren Vale, cropping at a bit over two tonnes an acre. As a single vineyard wine, a limited quantity of Mad Hatter is made each year. Mad Hatter is not a reference to Alice in wonderland, rather it is the nickname Dean Hewitson's closest friends have called him for many years. And why mad? Anyone who has spent more than five minutes with Hewitson will surely be able to explain.

The family Hentschke have been Barossa farming since 1842, they know from good soils and settle on nothing but the finest land. Keith Hentschke chose a special site along Greenock Creek, at the intersection of Gerald Roberts and Jenke Roads, in the ancient winegrowing hamlet of Seppeltsfield to plant vines in the early 1990s. They now yield vintages of the most amazing concentration, saturated with the essence of grand Barossa Shiraz, a remarkable intensity of chewy bramble berry flavours, heady jube perfumes and soft, savoury chamois tannins.

A limited release Old Vine Shiraz, from fruit of peerless quality, picked off precious family managed sites around the ancient hamlets of Ebenezer and Tappa Pass. Barossa Valley is unique in the world of wine for its heritage of devoted growers, descended from the earliest Lutheran settlers. They are often blessed by a harvest of the most extraordinary fruit. Henschke are well positioned to take advantage and retain the best of the best, treating the finest Barossa Shiraz to a regimen of timeless and traditional, old world vinification techniques.