2024 Howard Park Leston Shiraz, Margaret River

Howard Park Leston Shiraz from Margaret River is a beautifully sculpted expression of the region’s cooler climate take on Shiraz, showing how finesse, spice and structure come together when the grape is grown away from the heat of inland Australia. The Leston vineyard in the Wilyabrup subregion is the beating heart of this wine. Planted on ancient ironstone gravels mixed with laterite and sandy loam, the site gives naturally low yields, deep colour and a savoury mineral edge. Sea breezes from the Indian Ocean keep the afternoons cool, extending ripening and building aromatic lift. Howard Park has farmed these vines with meticulous care for decades, and the Leston range is named in honour of founder Jeff Burch’s father, who helped establish the estate’s strong vineyard foundations.

Winemaking focuses on purity and regional expression. The fruit is hand picked from select parcels, fermented in small batches and gently plunged to extract fine tannins rather than heavy structure. Ageing occurs in quality French oak, a portion new, which brings spice and refinement without overwhelming the wine’s natural balance. Margaret River Shiraz tends to lean toward pepper, dark fruit and savoury detail, and Howard Park captures that signature DNA with precision.

In the glass it sits as a deep ruby with a purple core. The nose opens with blackberry, mulberry and black cherry layered with cracked pepper, clove, violets and a savoury note reminiscent of roasted herb and warm earth. Beneath the spice lie hints of graphite, cocoa and subtle cedar from oak maturation. As it breathes, the wine gains lift, showing blackberry compote, dried flowers and a touch of liquorice.

The palate is medium to full bodied with beautiful clarity. Dark berries glide across the tongue framed by fine, silky tannins and bright acidity that feels distinctly Margaret River. Flavours of plum, blackberry, cherry, anise, pepper, cocoa and gentle oak spice build across the mid palate. The wine has a juicy core wrapped in savoury detail, finishing long, polished and slightly earthy with lingering dark fruit and peppery freshness. It is a Shiraz with both elegance and strength, delicious young but capable of ageing gracefully for eight to twelve years.

Food pairings include chargrilled lamb cutlets with rosemary, pepper crusted beef, smoky barbecue dishes, venison sausages, mushroom ragù, hard cheeses or roasted beetroot with herbs. Its balance of spice and fruit makes it incredibly versatile at the table.