Howard Park – Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay Vertical
In celebration of their 40th anniversary, Howard Park from Margaret River hosted a dinner in Sydney. Having visited their cellar door less than a year ago I couldn’t resist the opportunity to taste their wines again. The highlight was the vertical tastings for two of their flagship ‘icon’ wines.
Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay 2023
I tasted this wine when I visited their cellar door and loved it – see the post Park me at Howard Park — Wine with Bridie. Very smooth and savoury. The oak was in balance with the fruit, even though some new oak had been used. Flavours of white peach, pink grapefruit, cashew and a touch of saline. This wine had more lemon and mineral notes than the 2018. My rating from the earlier tasting was happily confirmed.
Rating: Bloody Delish Price: AUD 110
Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay 2018
This wine was smoother and rounder than the 2023. Flavours of dried herbs along with mandarin and extremely ripe orange zest. It became oakier as it opened up, almost to the point of dominating the wine. If you like oak, this is the one to go for.
Rating: Delish Price: AUD 160
Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay 2011
So smooth, round and integrated, and beautifully balanced. Aromas and flavours of almond, cashew, white floral, a lot of butterscotch and a touch of honey leapt from the glass. Not as concentrated in flavour as its younger siblings but a stunning wine. Definitely drink now.
Rating: Bloody Delish – almost Outstanding Price: AUD 160
My favourite wine of this bracket was the 2011 followed by the 2023. These wines were all paired with a pasta with pork neck ragu. These wines would also go well with chicken dishes, seafood and Asian cuisines that require a more intense wine to match the flavour intensity of the dishes – think Thai, Cantonese, Myanmar and some lighter Indian dishes.