2019 Howard Park Jete Grand Vintage, Mount Barker

Comes together harmoniously with the best batches of pinot noir and chardonnay, tiraged July ’19 and disgorged after 52 months on lees, dosage 3.6g/L. Mid-straw gold hue with plenty of fine bead and toasty, lemony aromas. Super dry and refreshing flavours range from buttered toast, apple crumble, yeasty/autolysis goodness, all creamy with honeycomb, and some salted lemons. This enjoys a degree of complexity and detail befitting the Grand Vintage style and it doesn’t disappoint.

93 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

Howard Park Jeté Grand Vintage from Mount Barker is one of Western Australia’s most refined traditional method sparkling wines, crafted with the same precision and patience seen in top Champagne houses. The Great Southern, and Mount Barker in particular, has become a quiet powerhouse for sparkling production thanks to its cool nights, long growing season and pristine fruit. Howard Park sources Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from some of the region’s highest and most wind influenced sites, where ancient granitic soils and maritime air help preserve acidity and build tension. Jeté is the estate’s flagship sparkling, named in honour of the graceful ballet leap, capturing the wine’s elegance, lift and finesse.

Winemaking is entirely Méthode Traditionnelle. Grapes are hand picked at sparkling ripeness and whole bunch pressed to protect delicacy. The base wine ferments cool to retain purity before undergoing secondary fermentation in bottle. The wine then spends extended time on lees, developing creamy texture, savoury depth and a fine, persistent bead. Howard Park’s commitment to long ageing is a defining feature of Jeté Grand Vintage and one of the reasons it stands among Australia’s top sparkling wines.

In the glass it shines a pale gold with an exceptionally fine mousse. The nose is elegant and layered with lemon zest, green apple, white peach and crisp pear wrapped around white florals, almond cream and gentle brioche. Beneath the fruit sit hints of chalk, crushed stone, pastry, hazelnut and a touch of nougat. As it opens, subtle notes of citrus blossom, oyster shell and vanilla bean appear, giving the bouquet both complexity and freshness.

The palate is precise, vibrant and beautifully textured. Tight citrus and orchard fruits glide over a creamy yet taut mid palate shaped by long lees ageing. Flavours of lemon curd, apple skin, pear, almond, fresh bread and subtle spice build in delicate layers. The acidity is bright and perfectly poised, carrying a firm mineral line that nods to Mount Barker’s ancient soils. The finish is long, clean and slightly saline with lingering citrus, pastry and chalky finesse. It is a sparkling wine that combines purity with sophistication and will continue to evolve over the next decade.

Pair it with oysters, scallops, sashimi, lobster, tempura vegetables, soft cheeses, white fish dishes, caviar, truffle gougères or delicate chicken preparations. Its brightness and subtle complexity make it immensely food friendly.