A family member was asking me about this label - Houghton - that appears to
be expanding it's presence in the US market. It's a part of Hardy's, which
was acquired by Constellation a couple of years ago. I find very little
about in on the internet, but have been told their wines cover a very broad
price spectrum, and many are extremely high end. No quality remarks
provided.

What do you guys in AU/NZ know of the brand? Is it a good one to look out
for? Specifics?? Thanks.

Midlife wrote:
> A family member was asking me about this label - Houghton - that appears to
> be expanding it's presence in the US market. It's a part of Hardy's, which
> was acquired by Constellation a couple of years ago. I find very little
> about in on the internet, but have been told their wines cover a very broad
> price spectrum, and many are extremely high end. No quality remarks
> provided.
>
> What do you guys in AU/NZ know of the brand? Is it a good one to look out
> for? Specifics?? Thanks.
>


Its reasonably big over here.

Its located in the Swan Valley, which is in Western Australia but a
lesser known area than others.

Winemakers Robert Bowen, Ross Pamment, Simon Osika. Established 1836.
280 000 cases annualy.

Price range $6.99-180AU.

SUMMARY: The five-star rating was once partially justified by Houghton
White Burgundy, one of Australia's largest-selling white wines - almost
entirely consumed within days of purchase - but superlative with 7 or so
years bottle age. The Jack Mann red, Gladstone Shiraz, Houghton Reserve
Shiraz, the Margaret River reds and Frankland Riesling are all of the
highest quality, and simply serve to reinforce the rating. To borrow a
phrase from Jack Mann, "There are no bad wines here."


I've had the white burgundy on the recommendation of a guy who
absolutely raved about it, I wasn't a huge fan. But that was a while
ago. And as I keep saying, I'm not a white fan generally.

I've also had the shiraz which I thought was a little thin and very very
hot. Sorry I can't remember vintages. ~2002 I would be guessing.

Both of those you can get here in Australia for sometimes as low as
$10AU, as well as some others. I think they do a fair bit of trade in
these entry level wines. One of which is the white burgundy, which as I
say a lot of ppl rave about.

So there is quality in their low end, and their premiums are supposedly
excellent.

Certainly worth a try.



Halliday [2005] gives the Frankland shiraz 2000 96 [rrp $29]
Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 96 [rrp $60]
Pemberton Chardonnay 2002 95 [rrp $29]
Regional riesling 2003 93 [rrp $22]
etc etc etc

There are tasting notes as well if there is anything in particular you
fancy. Have a look at the website for their range. And now that you have
more info you can probably track things down a bit easier.


Also try: http://www.swanvalley.com.au/wineries/win_res.html for a
general description
http://www.houghton-wines.com.au [if you look at the wines, and click on
Australia, you can look at their range].

Also try www.nicks.com.au and type in Houghton in the search box and it
comes up with two pages of notes on various wines.



As an aside, I think due to labelling laws they are going to have to
change "white burgundy" to something else.



HTH,

Mat.

Mat wrote:


I forgot I had the chenin blanc a while ago too.

Which had an almost toxic orange / tangerine hot sort of taste on the
palate that no one liked. IIRC 3 girls, 3 guys, of varying tastes, non
of whom liked it. It was almost difficult to finish my one glass.

But it was like $10AU a bottle. And I don't remember the vintage.



All the 3 wines I had were all the entry range, ~$10AU.

I think there's a cabernet merlot and a verdhelo in the range too.





Mat.

On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 10:17:40 +1000, Mat <Ask@me> wrote:

>Mat wrote:
>
>
>I forgot I had the chenin blanc a while ago too.
>
>Which had an almost toxic orange / tangerine hot sort of taste on the
>palate that no one liked. IIRC 3 girls, 3 guys, of varying tastes, non
>of whom liked it. It was almost difficult to finish my one glass.
>
>But it was like $10AU a bottle. And I don't remember the vintage.
>
>
>
>All the 3 wines I had were all the entry range, ~$10AU.
>
>I think there's a cabernet merlot and a verdhelo in the range too.
>
>
>
>
>
>Mat.

Same range also has a Semillon/Sauv Blanc that I sell plenty of.
Typical WA taste, whilst not brilliant, excllent QPR, (like most of
their entry range).

Recall at a trade show being overwhelmed by the Jack Mann, but IIRC,
sells at about $80AUD, and a little retailer like me can only have so
many super premiums in stock..:>)

Hooroo....