Howard Park Leston Shiraz 2017
- 91
- $50
- Drink by: 2020 - 2030
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Leston Shiraz was the Burch family’s first Margaret River-based wine. At the time, it made a big statement about what an under-rated asset the grape was in the area, and about diversity. That message still resonates.
Leston Shiraz helped spread the word because it is a friendly, approachable kind of Shiraz, not full-blown and bossy, but melded by west coast ‘Mediterranean’ mild winters and warm – not hot – summers.
The 2017 retains the party line with signature blackberry intensity, a touch of sweet red fruits, high spice and a bright, sunny disposition. Like a few 2017 reds from that part of the world, there is a strong line of pepper running through the palate that will either hold great appeal for the drinker or not. It definitely brings an energy to the wine, but it can wear. Oak and tannins, on the other hand, are all together on the side of balance.
Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.
