Howard Park Scotsdale Great Southern 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

"go west (then South)"

We had a hankering for something West Australian tonight. But instead of stopping at Margaret River for a taste, we hopped a little further South and found the Great Southern region. As well as having a vineyard in Margaret River, Howard Park also has another at the Great Southern region which is where this wine is from.

Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River tends to have a capsicum overtones whereas the Great Southern region tends to be more Bordeaux like. We enjoyed the wine immensely now although it easily could have cellared for another 5 years. This Cab Sav came from 27 years old vines on a gravelly vineyard in Mt. Barker which is Western Australia's cool climate region (sometimes you even get snow here). It spent 18 months in French oak barriques resulting in a very smooth and dry style of Cabernet which married an earthiness with rich plums and berries.

We paid around AUD28.00 at the time in around 2003 for it. The current vintage 2004 can be purchased for around AUD40.00. If you are wondering about the front label (the dragon around the tree), it's a Feng-shui thing inspired by the owner's wife who designed the label.

tonight's side menu: beef casserole with veges served with couscous. It really does complement the wine! ha...ha...