2000 Howard Park Scotsdale Shiraz Tasting Notes

A nervous season for grapegrowers, 2000 saw the tail end of two cyclones pass through the South-West. After passing benignly over Margaret River heavy rainfall was experienced in many of the inland grapegrowing areas. The fickle nature of such weather patterns left the Frankland property from which this wine was sourced virtually untouched by rain. The resultant fruit surpassed all our expectations being some of the most intense, deeply coloured and flavoured grapes to be harvested in the region. Simple fermentation techniques with open topped fermenters and twice daily pumpovers was followed by maturation for about 18 months in French oak barriques.

A dense wine with a black heart and a youthful purple rim. The nose is deep and intense with ripe cherries and wonderful hints of black pepper so distinctive of Shiraz from the Great Southern. Spicy tones from the oak complement the regional fruit characters. Even in its extreme youth this wine has masses of character evident with a palate spilling over in complex flavours and textures. Such layers of flavour are rare in such a young wine suggesting extreme promise. This is an outstanding wine that truly demonstrates the potential of the Great Southern as a Shiraz region.

The 2000 Howard Park ‘Scotsdale’ Shiraz has the structural complexity that will reward long medium term cellaring (8years).