"Lovely spice. Lovely cool climate characters. Lovely lines, silky tannins" - Courtney Treacher, Senior Winemaker
This Shiraz honors Thomas Newte Yule, who in 1836 was part of a syndicate of three British army officers who together purchased the northern half of a large land-holding in the Swan Valley. The property was named Houghton after the most senior of the trio – Lieutenant Colonel Richmond Houghton. During Thomas Yule’s management, the first vines were established. This Shiraz is sourced from the Frankland River wine-growing region - renowned for producing some of the best examples of Shiraz in Western Australia.
The Shiraz grapes for this wine are grown in the Justin vineyard in the Frankland River region of Western Australia. Sourced from vines planted in 1970, the fruit contributes to producing a wine of considerable depth and complexity truly reflecting its place of origin.
The wine is Brilliant, deep dark red with a luminous purple hue. The bouquet, brooding, intense and complex aromatics of blueberry, mulberry and boysenberry with hints of black pepper, aniseed, cinnamon and cola. Subtle vanillin and brioche pastry notes derived from French oak maturation complete the picture.
The silky palate is richly flavoured, concentrated and precise. Intense dark berry fruits with clove and cardamom spices and hints of mocha. Soft acid and a very fine but firm tannin structure carry the rich mid palate giving persistence and longevity. A great wine which will continue to develop in complexity over the next twenty years to thirty years.
FOOD SUGGESTION: Enjoy with an Osso Bucco, rare roast beef or venison, char grilled vegetables, hard and mild blue cheeses.
96 Points by Ray Jordan in the Wine Pilot 2023 "A bright and brilliant Shiraz from Frankland River. Dominant chalky iron stone and slightly rusty nail characters are a strong statement of the region. It’s a firmer style of Shiraz with fine sinewy tannins and plenty of oak harmonising and integrating. Lovely mix of spicy licorice with a blue fruit and dark plum influence. Excellent wine now or for extend cellaring."
95 Points by Aaron Basher in the The Real Review 2023 "Inky, dark and opaque in the glass. Lifted aromas of nutty, sweet oak, boysenberry, mulberry, graphite, mocha and a whiff of eucalyptus. Full flavoured, muscular, dark fruited and rich on the palate, lashings of sweet satsuma plum, dark cherry, oak and spice. Firm tannins and bright acidity bring plenty of mouthfeel and brightness. Built for the long haul."
