Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard Brooks Road Shiraz 2017

Product Information: Named for the street on which the vineyard is located, Brooks Road Shiraz exhibits the compelling single site character of the vineyard. It marries red, blue and black fruit aromas with perfumed and savoury elements and captures the full flavour of Shiraz with deeply ripe plum and blackberry fruits. The powerful and defined tannins are balanced with even-paced acid structure which accentuates length of flavour and delivers a sense of sustained purity on the palate. Maker: First planted in 1971 to dry-farmed Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, Hickinbotham is situated on the high elevation hills of Clarendon, a sub-region along the northern edge of McLaren Vale in South Australia. The vineyard historically produced fruit for many of Australia’s most iconic producers but was not bottled under its own label until 2012. Led by winemakers Chris Carpenter and from Yangarra Peter Fraser, and vineyard manager Michael Lane, the Hickinbotham wines continue the vineyard’s 50-year legacy. Vineyard: The first vines at the Hickinbotham Vineyard were planted in 1971 by Alan David Hickinbotham, son of Australia’s first wine science lecturer at the famous Roseworthy Agricultural College, Alan Robb Hickinbotham. This 186-hectare property of rolling hillsides remained under Hickinbotham family ownership for more than 40 years until it was purchased by the Jackson family in 2012. The vineyard has been farmed according to organic and biodynamic practices since 2019. The pedigree of the Hickinbotham Vineyard has long been established but, until the change of ownership in 2012, grapes from the 85-hectares of vines were only ever sold to an esteemed list of winemakers. With wineries including Penfolds, Clarendon Hills and Hardys, grapes were credited to flagship wines like Penfolds Grange and Eileen Hardy Shiraz. It was only Clarendon Hills that released vineyard-designate wines bearing the “Hickinbotham” name. The first four wines to bear the Hickinbotham Vineyard label were produced from the 2012 vintage: Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a Cabernet Shiraz blend. These parcels were selected from the oldest terraced plantings which trace the contours of the undulating, hillside terrain and continue to provide a rich tapestry of qualities from which the wines are crafted each year. The character of the Hickinbotham Vineyard is profound and produces famously resilient wines with highly expressive character. The breathtaking views from the top of the site down over the vines towards the Onkaparinga Gorge command ancient ground that is the key to the innate power this site produces. The cooling breezes funnel through from the hills above and the coast below and lend a desirable freshness to the wines. Nose – Crushed Flowers, Red-Blue Fruits, Mint The nose is a neatly woven basket of aromas: crushed flowers, red and blue fruit, pepper, mint and cigar box. Palate – Plush, Sleek, Rich Medium-bodied, well-defined, freshness of/and flavour, grainy but persistent tannin, energy and length. Finish – Assertive Tannin, Full Figured, Highly-Textural Shows seamless integration on the finish, with a chorus of flavors and velvety tannins. Black and red fruit, thyme and spice, roasted meat, touch of liquorice. Medium-bodied, well-defined, freshness of/and flavour, grainy but persistent tannin, energy and length. A lot of character and interest. Really very good. – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 95 Points. Thanks in part to the relatively cool year, this is a wine that manages refinement, restraint and beautiful expression of place. The nose is a neatly woven basket of aromas: crushed flowers, red and blue fruit, pepper, mint and cigar box. The palate is full figured and highly textural. There’s a line of powdery, spicy, ultrafine tannins and a streak of high-end oak. Set up for a long and beautiful life, Drink from 2022–2045. – Wine Enthusiast, 95 Points. Dark plums and spice with toasty oak on offer, leading to a plush, fluid and rich texture, as well as a very fleshy and fresh, compact feel at the finish. Dark berries and cherries and a sleek, assertive tannin edge complete the picture. Drink or hold. – James Suckling The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Shiraz Country – Australia Region – McLaren Vale, South Australia Vintage – 2017 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 14.5%