Howard Park Leston Margaret River Shiraz 2024
- 94
- $40
- Drink by: 2026-2041
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The Leston Vineyard is located in the famed Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, from where many of the region’s greatest wines have emerged. The various batches from selected parcels throughout the Vineyard underwent discrete maturation for a period of ten months in a mix of French oak barriques, hogsheads and puncheons, one-quarter of them new. Dark magenta/purple, the nose exhibits aromas of plums, blueberries, chocolate, spices, florals and a hint of vanilla from the impressive oak integration. There is a plushness and generosity to this wine which retains focus throughout. A line of juicy acidity is maintained throughout, and the wine has serious length. There is more refinement here than one might expect to see with Shiraz from warmer climates like the Barossa and McLaren Vale. Not necessarily better, just different. Enjoy this over the next ten to fifteen years. Love it. Absolutely cracking value.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
