This wine is made from selected Chardonnay fruit from block 5 of the south facing slopes Of Howard Park’s Allingham vineyard in the Karridale sub-region of Margaret River. Individual parcels of grapes are hand-sorted then whole-bunch pressed directly to French oak of various sizes (around 25% new). Bâtonnage and malolactic fermentation are considered on an individual barrel basis, with the evolution of each carefully monitored. Maturation in oak ranges from 7-9 months, and is followed by an additional two months in tank for the final blend to harmonise prior to bottling.
2024
“This is a solid, classy Chardonnay. Elegance, for sure. Energy, yes. Oak, of course, but it’s smooth, it’s restrained, it lets the fruit shine. Even though it’s not impossible to enjoy this immediately, the concentration and structure look promising for this wine’s future. There’s a blanc de blancs delicacy about it, almost as if it was touched by someone who made a lot of smart sparkling wine in life.” 96 points, Kasia Sobiesiak, Winefront
“It’s a concentrated and immensely powerful wine with great depth on the palate after an opening engagement, showing aromas of light cashew and brioche. There is something quite Burgundian here with its dry savoury chalkiness providing line and length throughout the palate. An excellent wine that is only in its very early stages and needs at least another year to hit its straps.” 97 Points, Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine
96 points Jane Faulkner Halliday Wine companion
95 Points, Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
94 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
97 Points, Andrew Calliard, Wine Pilot
2023
“It must be said that in the past 12 months, I have been involved in several masked tastings of Western Australian wines, and the Howard Park wines have presented very well; their performance in this regard is the best I can recall in recent memory. Hats off to winemaker Nic Bowen and the team there for their hard work. This is as creamy and as nutty as ever, but it is imbued with a thread of saline acidity that is woven through every aspect of the palate. It is seamless and controlled, elegant, fine, and ever so long through the finish. There are notes of salted cashews, yellow peach, green apple, shaved fennel, spring flowers, and lemon curd. This is the very best Allingham I can recall seeing. It is superb.” 96 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
“An outstanding chardonnay which comes from the Allingham vineyard at the cool Karridale subregion. It is so exquisitely integrated and woven together with such subtlety and precision. It gets down to each barrel where decisions are made on malolactic fermentation and the degree of lees stirring. The result is a marvellous wine displaying freshness and vibrancy with typical notes of citrus, grapefruit and white peach permeating throughout. Has a dry savoury minerality to finish. Exceptional wine.” 98 points, Ray Jordan
96 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday wine Companion
96 Points, Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
96 Points, Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot
94 Points, James Suckling
Gold, 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards
94+ Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
