A wine of elegance and fruit power, C.W. Ferguson honours the contribution of early Houghton winemaker Charles William Ferguson. During his time at Houghton, Charles established a solid reputation for Houghton Wines. It was Charles who employed George Mann, father of legendary Houghton Winemaker Jack Mann.
Fruit for this wine was sourced from the sub region of Frankland River in the Great Southern wine growing region of Western Australia. The Frankland River area is characterised by cool winters, warm summer days and cool summer nights. The soils are some of the oldest degraded granitic gravels in the world.
Our wine is dark red with a youthful and luminous scarlet hue. The full flavoured palate has an imposing presence displaying complex bramble fruit, dark chocolate and a firm, but fine tannin structure. A wine of great length and flavour, complex, and perfectly balanced ensuring a long future with years of life ahead.
FOOD SUGGESTION - Enjoy with a Char-grilled steak and hard cheeses
95 Points- "A rich and plush red with high-quality, fine-grained tannin, ebullient and evocative dark fruit, earth, sweet herb and spicy elements, the palate similarly styled but with more detail of clove, ginger biscuit, oak elements, chocolate and cassis, dried Italianate herbal notes and some briny mineral qualities. Tannins are open-weave yet provide fringes and a gentle sense of succulence, keeping the rich, muscular fruit and spicy oak characters in check. Very seductive to drink, palate-staining and generous yet with a sense of restraint. To be applauded and drunk with gusto." - Halliday Companion Mike Bennie Published 07 August 2024
94 Points - Huon Hooke – The Real Review 2024 “Deep, bright red-purple colour with subtly floral, berry and green bean cabernet aromas, the palate sweetly fruited and soft textured, with straightforward berry flavours and a sweetness from really ripe fruit. A bold, solid cabernet with a promising future.”
94 Points – Ray Jordan – WA Wine Review 2024 “An elegantly structured wine from this cooler vintage. Beautiful, scented aromas of plum and spices with a little red berry character. The palate is so neatly integrated with those perfect bedfellows of cabernet and malbec knitting together harmoniously. The silky tannins and fine-grained oak provide a velvety smooth and vibrant palate. A little minerally seashell-like character adds to the finish.”
94 Points – Regan Drew – Wine Pilot 2024 “Houghton’s blend with fruit coming from the iconic Justin vineyard. Blackberry plush with tobacco herb edges, sweet vanilla bean paste, mulberry, olive tapenade, cassis, pink salt, rope licorice and bouquet garni. Flowing and smooth, darkly handsome palate. The tannins stick with a touch of stalk and chew. Those herb Malbec edges give a medicinal hint over rich black berry fruit, kissed by oak. The blend giving plenty, yet maintains balance and complexity.”
