Houghton 2001 Gladstone Cabernet Sauvignon PlonkOz04

The bouquet showed lifted fruit which was both supple and classy. Smooth, drying powdery tannins and pure fruit form the basis of this well-constructed, well-balanced wine. Blackberry, liquorish and mint gives the wine and agreeable complexity which is enjoyable but somehow seems to lack varietal definition. The consistency is firm and supple but there is no doubt the wine needs time for the tannins to resolve and should be better in 2010 and beyond. Rated as Highly Recommended with ** for value. Although 2001 was an impressive year in Western Australia, I preferred the 1999 vintage of this wine.