2016 Hickinbotham Clarendon Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep, intense, youthful red/purple colour, the bouquet gorgeously loaded with blue and black fruit aromas, blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry, with a lacing of violets. The wine is full-bodied and extremely elegant, with perfect ripeness, beautifully modulated fruit and tannins, and subtle oak handling. A thoroughly delicious cabernet, accessible right now but with the potential to mature gracefully for many years. Winemaker Chris Carpenter thinks this is his best cabernet yet.' Read more
Critic Reviews
Deep, intense, youthful red/purple colour, the bouquet gorgeously loaded with blue and black fruit aromas, blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry, with a lacing of violets. The wine is full-bodied and extremely elegant, with perfect ripeness, beautifully modulated fruit and tannins, and subtle oak handling. A thoroughly delicious cabernet, accessible right now but with the potential to mature gracefully for many years. Winemaker Chris Carpenter thinks this is his best cabernet yet.'
Hand-picked, destemmed but whole berries, open fermented on skins 18 days, basket-pressed, only free-run juice, new and 1 year old Bordeaux barrels, aged 15 months. It's tempting to pour a glass immediately and savour it, for everything from the fruit, cedary oak, tannins to its acidity are in total balance.'
Fair bit of gum leaf perfume, and a truffle and flower water pong, mocha, blackcurrant and blackberry. It's medium bodied, with a blend of sweet black fruit and undergrowth and savoury things, a touch meaty and the like, but with fleshy tannin and a solid finish. A little old school in its delivery but very nice, and almost certainly age-worthy.'
Technical Attributes
-
![Producer]()
Producer: Hickinbotham Wines
-
![Varietal]()
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
-
![Region]()
Region: McLaren Vale
-
![Alcohol]()
Alcohol: 14.0%
-
![Net volume]()
Net volume: 750ml
-
![Vintage]()
Vintage: 2016
-
![Cellar to]()
Cellar until 2041
-
Style GuideLight Intense
Producer: Hickinbotham Wines
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.0%
Net volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2016
Cellar until 2041
Tasting Notes
AROMA: Intense, yet lithe, aromas of red and black currants, juniper berries, and lavender are punctuated by hints of vanilla and green tobacco leaf. PALATE: On the palate the wine is sinuous and alluring, with musky notes of bergamot and fresh plum; with a seductive note of violets; all framed by satiny tannins and a mouth-watering finish. This is an excellent bright modern example of what Australia once called claret.
Winemakers Note
Cabernet Sauvignon from contour blocks planted in 1971 at 155m to 230m altitude. Hand-picked, de-stemmed and whole berry sorted and gently crushed to open fermentation. Cold soaked, pumped over daily with a minimum of 18 days on skins. Basket pressed with light pressings added back to free-run, hard pressings kept separate, not used in blend. Rack and returned three times during maturation for 15 months, aged in a selection of Bordeaux coopered barrels, new and one year old. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.