Clarendon Hills
Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon
Clarendon, Fleurieu, South Australia, Australia
Holly and I celebrated 19 years together this week so naturally, another bottle of 2005 emerged from our cellar. Clarendon Hills is known mostly for their Rhône-styled wines but their Cabernet Sauvignon’s are of equal quality. The 2005 Hickinbotham was poured into a decanter about 90 minutes prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The wine pours, a deep ruby color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and some desiccated, dark fruits and red fruits: blackberries, black currants, red plums, dried tobacco leaf, Herbs de Provence, oiled leather, mocha, dusty gravel, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry, medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however the fruit seems riper in profile. The finish is long and rich; decadent. A dense wine of strong character and a lovely pairing with grilled lamb chops and kofta. Drinking so well right now and I expect this will continue to do so well past 2035.
Holly and I celebrated 19 years together this week so naturally, another bottle of 2005 emerged from our cellar. Clarendon Hills is known mostly for their Rhône-styled wines but their Cabernet Sauvignon’s are of equal quality. The 2005 Hickinbotham was poured into a decanter about 90 minutes prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The wine pours, a deep ruby color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and some desiccated, dark fruits and red fruits: blackberries, black currants, red plums, dried tobacco leaf, Herbs de Provence, oiled leather, mocha, dusty gravel, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry, medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however the fruit seems riper in profile. The finish is long and rich; decadent. A dense wine of strong character and a lovely pairing with grilled lamb chops and kofta. Drinking so well right now and I expect this will continue to do so well past 2035.
Aug 31st, 2024Presented double-blind. The wine appears deep garnet with an opaque core. There appears to be a slight amount of sediment but otherwise no visual signs of age. On the nose, a beguiling mix of black, blue and red fruits with a pronounced hit of tobacco, green bell pepper, purple flowers, earth and baking space. On the palate, the wine is dry with very firm tannin that I would place in the medium++ category. Medium+ acid. The fruit set is confirmed along with the aforementioned non-fruit characteristics with some leather and earth for good measure. The finish very long and rich. While there is an undeniable amount of high quality fruit, I felt the non-fruit characteristics and the structure leaned more towards the old world. I called 2008 Paulliac from a classified growth. I didn’t even think about Australia! Anyway, this was awesome and came across almost youthful! I’ve long admired Roman’s work with Syrah…and now I know I’ve been sleeping on his Cabernet. This wine will continue to drink well for another decade+.
Presented double-blind. The wine appears deep garnet with an opaque core. There appears to be a slight amount of sediment but otherwise no visual signs of age. On the nose, a beguiling mix of black, blue and red fruits with a pronounced hit of tobacco, green bell pepper, purple flowers, earth and baking space. On the palate, the wine is dry with very firm tannin that I would place in the medium++ category. Medium+ acid. The fruit set is confirmed along with the aforementioned non-fruit characteristics with some leather and earth for good measure. The finish very long and rich. While there is an undeniable amount of high quality fruit, I felt the non-fruit characteristics and the structure leaned more towards the old world. I called 2008 Paulliac from a classified growth. I didn’t even think about Australia! Anyway, this was awesome and came across almost youthful! I’ve long admired Roman’s work with Syrah…and now I know I’ve been sleeping on his Cabernet. This wine will continue to drink well for another decade+.
Mar 28th, 2022
For a 10 yr old Aussie cab, I'm impressed! In the glass, the wine comes across as impenetrable. It's inky black. The nose is dominated with maple syrup and sweet oak tones. On the palette, the wine is viscous and has weight. Super sweet with maraschino cherries. My last bottle, sniff...
For a 10 yr old Aussie cab, I'm impressed! In the glass, the wine comes across as impenetrable. It's inky black. The nose is dominated with maple syrup and sweet oak tones. On the palette, the wine is viscous and has weight. Super sweet with maraschino cherries. My last bottle, sniff...
Aug 31st, 2015
Surprised me with this age on it. I’d buy a case if available.
Surprised me with this age on it. I’d buy a case if available.
Mar 27th, 2023
Herb from Australia. Concentration. Second glass is rounded much good mixed with herb flavor and it created its feature. 2005 @, , 211126
Herb from Australia. Concentration. Second glass is rounded much good mixed with herb flavor and it created its feature. 2005 @, , 211126
Nov 26th, 2021
Wow, it’s big but so much Cabernet character, it’s aged now for drinking but the acid with help it last another few years. It’s all about chocolate and blue berry.
Wow, it’s big but so much Cabernet character, it’s aged now for drinking but the acid with help it last another few years. It’s all about chocolate and blue berry.
Apr 8th, 2018
Started of the weekend with this wine, yum!
Started of the weekend with this wine, yum!
Jul 6th, 2014