Houghton was established in 1836. It is one of Australia's oldest operating wineries. Houghton is now the tenth-largest red and white bottle brand in Australia, and sources fruit from every major premium grape-growing region in WA, including Gingin, Margaret River, Frankland River and Mount Barker in the Great Southern, and the emerging Pemberton region.

While there are stylistic similarities with the previous vintage, this is a prettier and if anything, more delicate expression. Yet, there is ample engine room power here. It’s so bright and alive with energy from the first take on the nose through to the perfectly balanced and weighted medium bodied palate. Love the powdery tannins and super-fine-grained oak use. “Jack” is today quite different to early vintages and in many ways mirrors where modern winemaking is taking our wines. I love it. Drink to: 2037; Price: $200.00; Rating: 98 Points; Ray Jordan

While the oak is still sitting atop the 2022 Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon, the percentage of new oak has been dialed back from previous years. It allows the fruit to shine as brightly as it will in this great, warm, dry year. This is a superb rendition of this wine—better than many that have come before it. Sensational. It's a young pup at this stage. Rating: 97 Points; Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

Great depth of purple colour looks the goods here. There's a well-measured overlay of cedary oak on the nose, but it's well and truly in balance, with crushed blackberry, blackcurrant pastille, mocha and minty characters at the heart of things. There's also a haunting thread of floral fragrance adding elegance. In the mouth a robust core of rich varietal fruit is nicely seasoned with choc-mint and mocha-like touches. Medium to full-bodied, the palate flows seamlessly and sustained through a robust tannin structure. An immensely satisfying cabernet that should be hugely rewarding as the years roll by. Date: 2024; Alcohol: 14%; Rating 96 Points; Ralph Kyte-Powell; The Real Review

From a prized single vineyard and a wine that has been made for 51 consecutive vintages. Very good. This is an excellent release, full of tension and structure, charismatic perfume, dark fruit, well-judged seasoning, a terrific fine tannin profile and a general sense of elegance and restraint. It feels potent yet medium weight, svelte and tense, tannins show authority but are succulent and refreshing, the darker fruits, plum and blackcurrant, find keen friends in woody spices, new leather, mahogany-like oak elements and a swathe of wild herbs, mint included. It's a stellar wine, feels fancy from first approach and is destined for an outstanding cellaring life. Date: Feb 2024; Alcohol: 14%; Price: $180.00; Drink by: 2025; Rating: 96 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion