2003 Howard Park Riesling Reviews

“The nose has delicate lime and musky floral aromas. In the mouth it?s a firmly structured, high-acid style that seems to lack richness right now, but it?s in the make-up of these wines that they start life mean and unyielding, only to flower with age. Past experience shows us that this should develop superbly in bottle.”

Huon Hooke & Ralph Kyte-Powell, 2004/2005 The Penguin Good Wine Guide - 01-01-2005
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“Riesling from Western Australia?s far south has been impressing us lately with its piercing varietal personality. Howard Park 2003 is typically austere with delicate musky floral fruit up front and firm citrus notes underneath. The palate is firm and zesty with real presence and strength of character. Ageing: two to six years. ”

Huon Hooke & Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age - 31-08-2004
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“Great Southern riesling is typically austere and suited to ageing. The Howard Park ?03 is a case in point: tight, undeveloped but loaded with potential. The nose has understated, musky floral and lime aromas. The palate lacks fruit richness at the moment but it?s firmly constructed and high in acidity. My bet is that it will be superb, given bottle age.”

Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age - 11-05-2004
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“Winestate Wine of the Year Awards 2003 Riesling of the Year ? 3rd place Excellent aromas ? intense and varietal with fresh, flinty lime lift. Tight tropical up-front lychee-passionfruit palate. Quite intense?”

Winestate Panel, Winestate Magazine - 01-12-2003
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“An intensely limey, fragrant WA riesling, with a greenish tint and a vibrant, screw-cap-enhanced aroma of mineral citrus intensity. Young and still slightly estery, it has great concentration and zing without the fierce acid of some earlier vintages. Best now to 2010.”

Huon Hooke, Good Living - 04-11-2003
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“A superb example of WA riesling, this is not as piercingly acidic as some recent releases and therefore needs less time in the bottle, though it has all the structure and fruit to cellar for many years. Smells of lime blossom and other subtle citrus aromas are appealing. The acid is fine and talcy. The fruit is beautifully lingering and sustained. A lovely drink.”

Ray Jordan, The West Australian - 25-10-2003
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“It's gently reductive on the nose but there's nothing wrong with the palate, which is crisp and intense and aflood with grapefruit and lemon fruit flavours. It seems both austere and full, with a powdery finish that while persistent, seems slightly clumsy at this early stage. Drink: Now -2008. ”

89 Points
Campbell Mattinson, Winefront Monthly - 01-09-2003
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