TN: Howard Park "Abercrombie" Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

[Waiters Friend]

Decanted about 90 minutes before service.

Purple / crimson in colour, and quite bright in the glass. Intense blackcurrant and blackberry fruit on the nose, quite sweet and primary. There's quality French oak here, with cedar and mocha, but at this stage the fruit is dominant.

The palate is layered, with fruit sweetness and savoury oak characters overlapping in waves. Tannins are present but unobtrusive, and acid provides freshness without being dominant. At this stage, the wine is medium- to full-bodied, but it's not overpowering - just well balanced. Long finish.

This is an excellent wine, that will improve over the next decade or two. Power and elegance combined.

Cheers
Allan

HP Abercrombie.jpg

[Waiters Friend]

Tonight's bottle is a bit of a rarity - it's under cork, rather than the ever-present (and generally preferred) screwcap. Otherwise, I would have not opened a 2018 because of its relative youth. The previous tasting note indicates my thoughts on its likely longevity.

Decanted a couple of hours before service, and a glass poured but not tasted at that time. Initial nose of graphite / pencil shavings and then the fruit started to emerge with swirling. Lots of blackcurrant, cassis, and dark berries, with polished cedary oak in support, and a little eucalypt.

The palate is full and complex, with more graphite, mocha, blackberry and cedar - the fruit has developed a little and is not as overtly sweet as previously tasted. Tannins are fine and grippy and acid continues to support. Very long finish, and leaving me wanting another glass.

Still a baby - I wonder how good this will be in another 5 and 10 years. Excellent wine.

Cheers
Allan

Abercrombie.jpg

[Mike Hawkins]

Alongside Moss Wood, this is my favourite WA red, just in front of Woodlands

[Andrew Jordan]

Alongside Moss Wood, this is my favourite WA red, just in front of Woodlands

So, you have finally seen the light ...