TN: Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

[Waiters Friend]

From the Leston vineyard in Margaret River, which is also the modern home vineyard of Howard Park.

Crimson purple in the glass, and quite dense. Developed nose, with blackberry, kirsch, Virginian tobacco, and cedary oak. The palate has more of the blackberry, with some fruit sweetness especially on the back palate. Slightly drying and well integrated tannins, good supporting acid, and palate weight / mouthfeel fill out what is a medium- to full-bodied and complete wine.

Probably at it's peak now, from the fabulous (in WA) 2011 vintage. Most satisfying.

Cheers
Allan

[Mahmoud Ali]

Good heavens, the 2011 Cabernet is at its peak! Meanwhile I'm still enjoying the trajectory of my 2003 Howard Park 'Leston' Shiraz. Only six more to go.

[Waiters Friend]

An update from the 2020 note:

Decanted 6 hours before service. SImilar appearance to 2020. Very dusty nose, with the savoury oak and tobacco quite prominent, and dark fruits have diminished somewhat. Herbal and a little medicinal (possibly the remnants of the kirsch noted in 2020).

The palate is more about the fruit sweetness, however, with lashings of dark berries across the tongue and especially on the finish. Tannins are now fully integrated, and there's only a moderate grip towards the back palate. Acid is still playing its part, and, while the wine is developed, there's a touch of freshness. Long finish.

My last bottle, and possibly not a good as a year or two ago.

Cheers
Allan

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[JamieAdelaide]

There’s a significant aeration! Does Margaret River require this ?

[Chuck]

We are enjoying the 13 and 14 versions of this and feel they need more time.