Houghton winery has secured another award for its Jack Mann Cabernet blend, winning the Rural Finance Trophy for Best Claret Style or Cabernet Sauvignon at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
Houghton winery has secured another award for its Jack Mann Cabernet blend, winning the Rural Finance Trophy for Best Claret Style or Cabernet Sauvignon at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
Houghton's entered the 2007 Jack Mann, as well as 2001 and 1994 vintages in the show.
Houghton chief winemaker Ross Pamment said it was a particularly memorable win.
"The 2007 vintage was one of the better red vintages in WA," he said.
"It was dry throughout the season, with very little rain, and therefore low disease pressure, low yields and good intensity of flavour.
"The Houghton Jack Mann is a classic cellaring style.
"Astute wine drinkers and collectors have switched onto this style and we anticipate that as exposure for Jack Mann grows that this group will also grow," said Mr Pamment.
See statement from Houghton's below:
Western Australia's most awarded winery, Houghton, last night captured another major award for its iconic Jack Mann Cabernet blend, winning the Rural Finance Trophy for Best Claret Style or Cabernet Sauvignon at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
The win for the recently released 2007 vintage comes soon after the label won the prestigious Gramp, Hardy, Hill Smith Prize for Outstanding Wine of Provenance at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, an award presented for three vintages of the same wine, which were considered by a special panel of judges to demonstrate outstanding varietal character, longevity and house style. The 2007 Jack Mann was entered along with the 2001 and 1994 vintages.
The latest revision of Langton's Classification of Australian Wine, released recently, upgraded Jack Mann from Distinguished to Excellent.
Houghton Chief Winemaker Ross Pamment said winning the Rural Finance Best Claret or Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy was particularly memorable coming on top of the wine's recent success.
"The 2007 vintage was one of the better red vintages in WA," he said. "It was dry throughout the season, with very little rain, and therefore low disease pressure, low yields and good intensity of flavour."
All fruit used in the 2007 Jack Mann was harvested from the well established vines at Justin Vineyard in the Frankland River region. For the first time since the 2000 vintage, Malbec was used in the blend.
"We returned to a portion of Malbec for the 2007 vintage," Mr Pamment said. "We used 14% of the variety to add opulence to the wine and its overall style and structure. It gave it more refinement.
"The Houghton Jack Mann is a classic cellaring style. Astute wine drinkers and collectors have switched onto this style and we anticipate that as exposure for Jack Mann grows that this group will also grow."
The 2007 Jack Mann, available for RRP $105 from fine wine retailers and the Swan Valley cellar door, is named in honour of legendary WA wine pioneer Jack Mann, who was last month inducted into the Icons of the Swan Valley hall of fame.