2016 Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard Elder Hill Grenache

95 POINTS

Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Wine Companion

From a single block of bush vines planted in '62, destemmed but whole berries, 10% whole bunch, open fermented, 13 days on skins, aged in seasoned barrels for 7 months. Heady aromas of raspberries, star anise and a dash of Mediterranean herbs. Lovely balance and a succulence on the medium-bodied palate where ripe, sandy tannins kick in. Pitch-perfect now.

94 POINTS

Steve Leszczynski - QWine

The vineyard was planted in 1962. Handpicked fruit with 10% whole bunches used. Matured in a selection of five-year-old barrels. Don't walk up here expecting raspberries and strawberries. Fine spices coupled with dried fig and dried dates sit at the core of this wine. It runs deep with plenty of meaty generosity in its veins. Some dried red flower aromas add some floral prettiness. Brick dust like tannins are scattered across the mouth leaving a long and drying finish. A superb rendition of Grenache - it's hard to resist another glass.

94 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

Smooth as silk, ripped with spice, pulled more-or-less taut through the finish and yet various flavours remain free to flow like the outreaches of a flag. You get spice drenched length, you get florals, you get a core of succulent raspberry and anise. In short, you get a textbook example of quality McLaren Vale grenache.

93 POINTS

Toni Paterson MW - The Real Review

A sophisticated grenache with distinct savoury elements which balance the generous red-fruit flavours. Refined, quality oak accents add interest. I adore the faint dried cherry accents and the intense red mulberry flavours on the back palate. A classy grenache. Very well-made.

93 POINTS

Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate

From vines planted in 1962 with a southeastern (cool) exposure, the herb-tinged 2016 Elder Hill Grenache (roughly 15% was fermented as whole clusters) features elegant strawberry and raspberry fruit on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied and silky in texture on the palate, picking up hints of roses and mocha on the long finish. It shows ample body but also the sense of weightlessness that often marks great Grenache. It should drink well for another 4-5 years, at least, and probably many more.

90 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Medium to deep red/purple bright colour; the bouquet spicy, fresh earth and subdued raspberry fruit. The wine is medium-bodied and savoury, with more savoury and matured flavours than fresh, bright, jubey fruit. It's soft but drying on the tongue. A good wine and quite a different style to the sibling Yangarra grenaches. (Made from 54-year-old grenache vines on the property, planted before the Hickinbothams owned it. 473 cases made)