Retail outlets around Australia commenced stocking 2009 Wisdom Pemberton Chardonnay, 2008 Wisdom Frankland River Shiraz, 2008 Wisdom Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2005 Gladstones Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon in May 2010 and specialty wine stores now carry the 2004 Museum Release White Classic.

Houghton Wisdom Pemberton Chardonnay 2009 – RRP $32.00
This is the ninth vintage of this highly awarded Pemberton Chardonnay. The 2009 vintage was ideally suited to the production of intensely flavoured berries with fine acidity. Heavy rainfall in winter and early spring enabled the vine to develop strong and healthy canopies and the summer remained dry and moderate, with fruit ripening slowly. The fruit was handpicked, from 20 year old + vines planted on Karri loam soils. Following whole-bunch pressing, the various juice batches had minimal settling before being
transferred to predominantly new French oak for natural fermentation. The wines were left on lees and regularly stirred for nine months prior to blending and fining.

Houghton Wisdom Frankland River Shiraz 2008 – RRP $32.00
Refreshing rains during the 2007-08 growing season replenished dry soils and meant that the vines had large, leafy canopies for the warm summer that followed. Frankland River is fortunate enough to receive cooling afternoon sea breezes from the Southern Ocean and this helped enable the fruit to develop maximum flavour, sugar ripeness and acid balance. The Justin Vineyard fruit was harvested and fermented in small stainless steel open fermenters, hand plunged and pressed off at dryness to French oak barriques. The resultant wine shows the hallmarks of Frankland River Shiraz; medium bodied with sweet berry fruit teamed with a savoury complexity.

Houghton Wisdom Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 – RRP $32.00
The 2007-08 growing season in Margaret River was much like the conditions in Frankland River – a warm summer however the vines were well protected by healthy canopies. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested at ideal flavour ripeness from several vineyards in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River and fermentation occurred in small static fermenters and the wine was pressed off and matured in Bordeaux-coopered French oak for 17 months before fining, clarification and bottling.

Houghton Gladstones Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – RRP $70.00
Dry conditions at the beginning of winter 2004 were followed by the wettest August in 12 years. This rainfall provided the thirsty vines with good health for the growing season and spring to summer remained relatively dry, providing good growing conditions. Below average temperatures in February and March meant that the ripening of the Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon was slow and even, resulting in great flavour accumulation. Fruit for the Gladstones 2005 was handpicked and fermented in small (2-5 tonne) open fermenters, hand plunged and pressed off to French oak barriques at dryness. The wine was minimally handled throughout its life in oak and was assembled and bottled just prior to Christmas 2006.

Houghton Museum Release White Classic 2004 – RRP $32.00
The 2004 vintage promised and delivered a lot from beginning to end. After a good start to winter, the rains kept going until mid November. Spring to Autumn vine growth ensured healthy canopies. Conditions during flowering were very good and consequently fruit set successfully. January was hot and dry and ripeness occurred steadily with great flavour development and acid retention.

The juice components (comprising of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Semillon and Muscadelle) were cool-fermented, blended and bottled soon after vintage to retain the full fruit flavours. The bottled wine then rested in our cool cellars for six years to develop greater complexity of flavour yet maintain freshness of character.

This is a fine example of the legendary Houghton White Classic and its ability to age gracefully. The 2004 Houghton Museum Release White Classic is a wine to enjoy upon release.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself or Robyn Clasohm on 08 8392 2480 if you have any further queries about the new vintages of our Houghton wines.

With kind regards,

Ross Pamment – Chief Winemaker – Houghton