Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
- 95
- $160
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There’s an elegance to the fruit here, framed by a strong architectural structure. A sweet plume of mulberry opens the aromatics, quickly joined by bay leaf, plum, crushed violet, forest cake, and a building layer of graphite. A good swirl releases gravel and petrichor notes that add complexity and intrigue, while dusty cedar simmers beneath throughout. As these elements coalesce, the wine’s class becomes clear. The palate delivers power, quickly restrained by firm tannin structure – mulberry, blackcurrant, and plum coil within stacked, grainy, mocha-laced tannins, leading to a long finish. It’s currently febrile and nervy, clearly a wine built for long-term cellaring. But the bones are brilliant.
Tom Kline is a wine writer, reviewer, presenter, and educator based in Victoria, Australia. He is the Australian correspondent for the internationally respected publications Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, where he highlights the top tier of Australian wine for a global audience. Tom also writes for leading outlets including Decanter (UK), Wine Spectator (US), and Halliday Magazine, among others. An experienced wine show judge and WSET educator, he has authored several consumer-focused wine courses aimed at making wine more accessible and engaging. In 2023, Tom was awarded Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column at the prestigious Wine Communicator Awards, presented by Wine Communicators of Australia.
