The 2022 Houghton Gladstones is a deep red with scarlet hues. It has an intensely aromatic bouquet with displays of cassis and plum. This is combined with savory black olive tapenade, bay leaf, thyme and cigar box notes. The oak maturation adds layers of vanillin and subtle spice.
The palate is full bodied and finely structure, showcasing varietals characters of cassis, dark berry fruits and thyme. The powerful dense fruit is balanced by fine, firm tannins. French oak maturation contributes to the complexity, texture and length to the wine.
This is a complex and structural wine built to age gracefully with careful cellaring.
FOOD SUGGESTION: Enjoy with a Char-grilled steak, rich beef-based dishes or hard cheeses.
Gold Medal - 2025 Wine Show of Western Australia
97 Points - Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion 2024 "Aside from the too-heavy bottle – a little over 1.5kgs – there’s nothing heavy-handed about this exceptional wine. Heady aromas of mulberries, cassis and blackberries with just the right amount of leafy freshness and some Aussie bush fragrance, too. Fuller bodied yet the palate is elegant and refined with beautiful, textural tannins complemented by fine acidity. Impressive now and will last some distance, garnering even more complexity along the way."
97 Points - Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Real Review 2024 "Deep ruby. The nose is all dark fruits—blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrant—the essence of ripe cabernet sauvignon, with touches of violets, bresaola and dark earth adding floral and savoury dimensions. Unusually for top-notch cabernet, oak doesn't assert itself too much in its youth. Instead, plump, juicy fruit is its heart, and the round, juicy, full-bodied palate is satisfying and complete, with appropriately measured tannins in easy harmony. An outstanding and regional flagship cabernet"
96 Points - Ray Jordan - WA Wine Review 2024 "A wine which honours Dr John Gladstones, one of the greatest and most important people in the WA wine industry. A most elegant expression of this wine, which seems to indicate an approach to introduce more elegance and control. Minerally and slightly leafy blackcurrant on the nose with other notes of dark chocolate and light plum. The palate sings a delightful tune with fine tannins and fine-grained oak supporting fruit of power and poise. A most complete wine."
96 Points - Regan Drew - Wine Pilot 2024 "With fruit coming from the famed Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, the wine honours renowned viticulturist and long-time supporter of Houghton, Dr John Gladstones who in 1965 published a scientific paper identifying the suitability of the Margaret River region to grow premium wine grapes. Bruise purple in colour with a bright edge to the wine. A layered and complex nose full with concentrated violet, cassis, shiny and fleshy plum, fresh picked bay leaf, delicious chocolate, briny saltbush and supported with vanilla tinged and cedary oak. The palate is a modern Cabernet Sauvignon classic. Ripe yet fine tannins and flowing bright/black fruit punched with herbal studs of tobacco and bay. Drawing tight and focused with a long, balanced length."
