Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay 2024
- 95
- $105
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This shows its origins clearly from the cooler Karidale sub-region in Margaret River’s south. There’s a restrained, poised character here – quieter and more subtle than the louder Chardonnays further north. Sweet lime, gunflint, white grapefruit, and fine cedar bring immediate impact and class, underpinned by a subtle nougat substratum and a whisper of honey. With aeration, the fruit unfurls to reveal nectarine and white peach, followed by vanilla bean and lees-derived dough notes. Even aromatically, there’s abundant flavour wrapped in an elegant thread. The palate is equally restrained, with gorgeous texture. Dehydrated lime, grapefruit, nectarine, grilled nuts, and lemon peel are funneled through a firm line of saline acidity and chalk-laced phenolics, while cedar lingers in the mouth perfume. The length is lovely, though quietly carried. A classy release.
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.
