2025 Howard Park Miamup Chardonnay, Margaret River

93 points Wine Pilot

“…. good freshness throughout and very good length”

The Miamup offers a fresh take on Margaret River Chardonnay, with bright lemon aromas leading the way on the nose, complemented by notes of white peach, honeydew melon, honey and vanilla. The palate echoes what the nose discovered with a light dusting of warm spices. Light to medium-bodied, the flavours have subtle texture to them, the overall feeling balanced and refreshing.

Bring this bottle out for a sun-drenched lunch on the deck with pan-seared whiting and a lemon-herb butter sauce. The wine's vibrant citrus profile and crisp acidity cut through the richness of the butter perfectly, while its stone fruit core mirrors the delicate sweetness of the fresh fish.

Keeping it casual? Pop it open for a flaky seafood flatbread topped with garlic prawns, zucchini ribbons, and a sprinkle of feta. The wine's subtle texture and zesty drive frame the succulent prawns beautifully, while the crisp finish effortlessly balances the salty pop of the feta.

More about this wine

Howard Park is a family-owned winery with more than 40 years of experience in Western Australia’s Margaret River and Great Southern regions. From its 1986 origin in the latter, the estate has grown to five properties: Leston and Allingham in Margaret River, Mount Barrow and Abercrombie in the Great Southern, and Forest View in Pemberton. Each site has a different focus but the overarching theme is control: tailoring each vine and seasonal bud, and keeping the fruit and the expertise in-house.

The Miamup is a regional blend of Margaret River fruit, with the soils, aspects, clones and microclimates of each site adding complexity to the final wine.

The 2025 vintage was defined by consistently warm, dry conditions without extremes, allowing for even ripening and strong fruit quality. Each batch of fruit was picked in the cool of the night and processed soon after picking to ensure varietal flavours are preserved. Fermentation and malolactic occurred in a combination of 50% mostly seasoned French oak and 50% stainless steel, kept cool at 18 to 22 degrees. The lees were stirred from the end of fermentation and throughout the malolactic. After a 10-month rest, the wine was blended and held in stainless for a further two months prior to fining, filtration and bottling.

Critic reviews

93 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot, June 2026

"This is cracking value for an excellent Margaret River Chardonnay. From a selection of vineyards in the region, especially the south, fermentation is in a mix of French oak, 10% of which is new, and stainless-steel tanks, half and half. The wine then spends ten months maturing on lees. Green/gold in colour, this is classy stuff. An elegant and complete Chardonnay with gentle oak integration, the nose reveals aromas of citrus, melon, peaches and hints of jasmine. There is focus and balance here, with a fine line of acidity. Good freshness throughout and very good length, this will provide pleasure for at least the next eight years. Excellent buying. Drink to 2034."

91 points Jeni Port for Wine Pilot, June 2026

"Maturation in French oak brings with it a noted toasty vanillin edge which combined with some delicious peach, citrus and apple flavours certainly gives the drinker a high return for the money outlaid. Value for money all round. Sits warmly in the stone fruit and citrus spectrum with melon, apple, almond meal and spice. The condiments do a top job of elevating fruit and the oak offers a warm farewell to close. Mid-weight, nicely balanced, texturally warm and, overall, all round value for money. Drink to 2029."

89 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, June 2026

"The 2025 Miamup Chardonnay leads with pineapple and green apple, white peach and lemon zest. In the mouth it is texturally smooth, driven by racy acidity and pithy bitterness to close, keeping things fresh and lively. It's not a complex wine, but it has a lovely texture and good length."

87 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, June 2026

"Light yellow. Lemon juice and honey aromas, fresh and singular. Palate is again reserved and light-framed, slightly sweet, with appealing balance and drinkabilty if not great depth, length or complexity. Drink to 2031."