Howard Park Margaret River Chardonnay 2023

Category:
 
White Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
White Wines
Producer:
 
Howard Park
Label Name:
 
Margaret River Chardonnay
Vintage:
 
2023
Country:
 
Australia
Region:
 
Margaret River (Western Australia)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
12.5%
Grape(s):
 
99% Chardonnay, 1% Sauvignon Blanc
Acidity:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
3
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
10-12°C

Awards/Ratings
James Suckling 91; James Halliday 91; Decanter tasting 90; Winepilot review 93; entered/tasted at IWSC. Positive regional awards and strong critic scores

Tasting Note
Bright lemon and grapefruit with stone-fruit (peach, melon) and pear; subtle brioche, lemon-butter and vanilla spice from gentle oak; fine chalky texture, flinty minerality and bright acidity leading to a long, pithy finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast chicken, butter-poached lobster, creamy pasta, double-cream Brie, blue crab with dill mayonnaise. Asian: miso-glazed black cod, tempura prawns, chicken katsu, sushi (fatty tuna), steamed dumplings with light soy.

Production Method
Hand-harvested fruit; fermented in French oak barriques and stainless tanks, partial malolactic fermentation with regular lees stirring; ~9 months in barrel (≈30% new French oak); bottled under screwcap.

Vineyard Info
Howard Park, family-owned (Burch family) producer since 1986; Miamup sourced from Allingham vineyards in Margaret River (planted 1979/2016). Signature regional Chardonnay with modest production (circa 18,000 bottles).