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SPECIAL : To celebrate Tulip Time in Bowral last year, the Grand Old Man of Australian art, John Olsen, designed a tulip garden using the theme of the Beatles 'Octopus's Garden' . The garden was visited by thousands of people and the original painting worth $20,000 was raffled. Wineries of the Southern Highland have put together a mixed dozen of fine local wines, each labelled with the painting as depicted. Howards Lane's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was chosen as one of the dozen. Enquiries regarding orders for this wine, or indeed for the entire mixed dozen, would be welcomed at Howards Lane
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RED WINE |
WHITE WINE |
SWEET WINE |
Each wine is made entirely from our own hand-picked grapes, grown on hand-pruned vines. Now that recent plantings of other varieties have borne fruit, our range of wine has expanded from earlier vintages of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to encompass those listed below. We do hope that you are tempted to taste and enjoy them.
Our winemaker, Michelle Crockett works her magic by crafting wine that is appealing, elegant and unique to Howards Lane. Michelle’s philosophy is to retain the natural fruit character of the grape and to enhance the benefits of natural acidity found in our cool climate fruit. Huon Hooke has referred to Michelle’s red wines as being “an interesting interpretation of local style. All light bodied and lightly coloured, they are savoury wines made in an Italian inspired style using long skin contact. Somehow they avoid green tannins and possess a soft, low-tannin style”.
Of four wines submitted for inclusion in James Halliday’s 2007 Wine Companion, three were rated ‘Four Glasses’ out of five: the 2005 Chardonnays - wooded and unwooded - and Light Red, and the young 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon was rated ‘3.5 Glasses’.
Zimba White Port 2006
The initial crop of chardonnay from McCourt vineyard was late-harvested in 2006, allowing incipient botrytis on the fruit to develop and thus impart exquisite Muscat flavours and high sugars to the concentrated juice. ‘Zimba’ translates to ‘Lion’ in Africa. The port is elegantly presented in slender 375ml bottles, labelled in black and gold: a fine gift. This is the first white port to be made in the Southern Highlands.
Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Having planted the vines on arrival at Howards Lane, it has been a four year wait for our first Sauvignon Blanc to arrive at the Cellar door. The wine has a delicious blend of gooseberry, lychee and tropical characters and lends a delightful new dimension to our range of white wines.
Chardonnay 2005
The wine was lightly wooded in French oak which, together with malo-lactic fermentation lend softness to this traditionally made Chardonnay. Stone fruit flavours of quince and nectarine with a touch of honey make for a fine light wine.
Unwooded Chardonnay 2005
A wine that is in great demand at local Thai restaurants as its zesty natural acidity is a great match with spicy food. Citrus and white peach flavours. Well chilled, it is truly refreshing on hot summer days.
Light Red 2006
A ruby blend of shiraz, merlot and cabernet. Bursting with flavours of crushed red berries, this is a fruity, dry Rosé for all seasons. Enjoy lightly chilled for lazy summer drinking or snuggle up with it at room temperature in winter.
Merlot 2005
Our second vintage of Merlot, just 1,000 individually numbered bottles to follow up on the first limited edition of 380 Merlot 2003 – which sold out in three months. Christmas flavours again: fruit cake, dark plum and spice. A cherry red wine with lingering, velvet-soft tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
The latest Cabernet Sauvignon is purple- hued, cherry red in colour. Light bodied with rich blackberry and blackcurrant flavours and a taste of capsicum. A touch of vanilla from the wood.
