2022 Howard Park Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon Distinguished Sites Cabernet Sauvignon from our Abercrombie vineyard, located in the Mount  Barker subregion of the Great Southern, is crafted to highlight the distinctive  varietal and regional qualities of our best sites. Planted to the Houghton  clones of Cabernet in 1976, in this cooler, continental climate, the vineyard sits  on a north facing, elevated slope where it captures ample sun to fully ripen  Cabernet Sauvignon. TASTING NOTES Gravel, graphite, olive, tobacco and star anise emanate from a rich core of  red and black fruit, painting the perfect picture of cool-climate Cabernet  Sauvignon. Cedary oak aromas seamlessly flow into an endless cascade of  berries with raspberry, blackcurrant, mulberry, and brambleberry forming a  mesmerising bouquet. Poised and refined, the palate unveils plush red fruits,  bestowing a sense of opulence, while supple tannins and fine acidity provide  length, structure and vibrancy. Subtle hints of wild blueberry on the palate  impart a welcome freshness counterbalancing the broader strokes of black  plum, cassis and Christmas cake. A wine of nuance and finesse, it envelops  the palate with luxurious, ripe fruit, complemented by French oak spice and  finely woven tannin.  VINTAGE In 2022, beautiful dry and sunny conditions were entrenched throughout  January and February, removing a great deal of the disease pressure that  rain and humidity can bring and allowing a predictable insight into ripening  patterns across most varieties. While summer set the scene for another consistent and memorable vintage,  certain varieties paid a penalty for difficult conditions earlier in the growing  season. The wet winter of 2021 lingered unduly, smothering the renewal of  spring and delaying the onset of budburst and flowering in the vineyards. The  consequence was reduced yields in our estate vineyards in the Great Southern. Consistent fine weather at the tail end of the growing season ensured that  the potential developed in the vines was maximised by picking at optimum  levels of ripeness. Superb balance between sugar, acidity and flavour across  all varieties gives us great optimism for the evolution of wines from the 2022  vintage. VINEYARDS Vineyard: Abercrombie Blocks 1A, 1B & 2.  Location: Mount Barker, Great Southern.  Soils: shallow lateritic gravels over sandy, clay loam.  Aspect: North easterly slope Clone:  Houghton, planted 1976 WINEMAKING Small parcels were hand-picked and hand sorted to remove any unwanted  material before fermentation. Fermentation occurred in closed stainless steel  fermenters and small open top fermenters. Selected parcels remained on  skins after fermentation to further enhance the tannin profile while others  were pressed at dryness to capture fruit vibrancy. Each batch was matured  separately in order to build a wine history over time. The wine underwent  malolactic fermentation and matured in French oak (~ 25% new) for 18 months  prior to blending, fining and bottling.