Houghton was established in 1836, just four years after the fledgling colony of Western Australia was founded. 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.

The Houghton Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon honours renowned viticulturist and long time supporterof Houghton, Dr John Gladstones. In 1965 John published a scientific paper identifying the suitability of the Margaret River region to produce premium wine grapes. His importance as a viticultural researcher was recognised in 2008 when he received the Maurice O’Shea award for outstanding contribution to the wine industry.

The Gladstones Cabernet is always an impressive wine on release and ages slowly, like all good Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignons. Unfortunately, we, the drinkers, will not get the opportunity to taste any museum stock from Houghton, due to a tragic warehouse fire in 2019 that destroyed the vinous history of the house. So, to say that this 2020 Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon is prettier and more red-fruited than the previous releases will only be provable by tastings that you conduct in the privacy of your own home. Suffice to say, this is all about pomegranate, pink peppercorns, cassis, tobacco leaf, saltbush, bay leaf and nori. This might be one of the greatest Gladstones on release that I have tried. Bravo Treacher, bravo. Drink: 2022-2042; Rating: 97+ Points; Robert Parker's Advocate Wine Advocate

A wine that pays homage to Dr John Gladstones whose work was largely responsible for the development of Margaret River. This is right up there with any that have been made, coming from a vintage that was well suited to the variety. Leafy blackcurrant fruit with a graphite oyster shell nuance working with a sliver of black olive. It’s a substantial and powerful wine, yet there is elegance and poise that stems from the clever balance of fruit, oak and tannin. Drink by: 2023-2043; Rating: 97 Points; Ray Jordan