2023 Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay, Margaret River

An outstanding chardonnay which comes from the Allingham vineyard at the cool Karridale subregion. It is so exquisitelyintegrated and woven together with such subtlety and precision. It gets down to each barrel where decisions are made onmalolactic fermentation and the degree of lees stirring. The result is a marvellous wine displaying freshness and vibrancy withtypical notes of citrus, grapefruit and white peach permeating throughout. Has a dry savoury minerality to finish. Exceptional wine.

98 points rayjordanwine.com.au

There’s been a real shift in the Howard Park wines since chief winemaker Nic Bowen joined in ’21 and now with ‘his’ vintages coming to fruition, it’s wonderful to witness. This is excellent. It’s flinty and a little funky thanks to the whisper of sulphides yet lots of delicious citrus, spice and savoury oak, the latter superbly integrated. Everything comes together brilliantly all tied with a neat bow of acidity leading to a persistent finish.

 96 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

It must be said that in the past 12 months, I have been involved in several masked tastings of Western Australian wines, and the Howard Park wines have presented very well; their performance in this regard is the best I can recall in recent memory. Hats off to winemaker Nic Bowen and the team there for their hard work. The 2023 Allingham Chardonnay hails from the magnificent 2023 season. This is as creamy and as nutty as ever, but it is imbued with a thread of saline acidity that is woven through every aspect of the palate. It is seamless and controlled, elegant and fine and ever so long through the finish, with salted cashews, yellow peach, green apple, shaved fennel, spring flowers and lemon curd. This is the very best Allingham I can recall seeing. Superb. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

96 points Erin Larkin robertparker.com

The Allingham is a selection from the best blocks of Chardonnay that grow on the south facing slopes of Howard Park's Allingham vineyard in the Karridale sub region of Margaret River. It is the inspiration and skill of their winemaking team that draw upon traditional winemaking methods and maturation in French oak to craft a layered, flavoursome and complex wine from this cool southern site.