Clarendon Hills

Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon

9.183 ratings
8.913 pro ratings
Clarendon, Fleurieu, South Australia, Australia
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
Jay Kline

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, 2024
Jay Kline

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+.

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
Steven Gullo

Muted fruit. Somewhat hollow. Past it’s prime

Muted fruit. Somewhat hollow. Past it’s prime

Sep 15th, 2018
Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

8.8

Treacle, fruit compote, apricot hamantaschen, grilled tomato and lots of heat. Mouthful of wine.

Treacle, fruit compote, apricot hamantaschen, grilled tomato and lots of heat. Mouthful of wine.

Aug 4th, 2018
MLP
9.2

Premier Cru label says dessert wine. Not far off. This came through a secondary source but good to see they actually delivered someone's wine.

Premier Cru label says dessert wine. Not far off. This came through a secondary source but good to see they actually delivered someone's wine.

1 person found it helpfulAug 28th, 2016
WineMascot

2002, minty green.

2002, minty green.

Mar 15th, 2017
Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.2

This is amazing. Some blueberry, graphite, surprisingly good. Nice development, too. Lovely.

This is amazing. Some blueberry, graphite, surprisingly good. Nice development, too. Lovely.

Nov 8th, 2015
Ron R
9.2

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
Bob McDonald

Made by the redoubtable Roman Bratasiuk of Astralis Syrah fame and consumed at Daniel Oconnels North Adelaide from their all SA wine list. Coffee and clove aromas. Some smokiness. Great depth of flavour and concentration. Top notch Cabernet from a great wine maker in a good vintage. 18.

Made by the redoubtable Roman Bratasiuk of Astralis Syrah fame and consumed at Daniel Oconnels North Adelaide from their all SA wine list. Coffee and clove aromas. Some smokiness. Great depth of flavour and concentration. Top notch Cabernet from a great wine maker in a good vintage. 18.

Dec 26th, 2014
Bill Bender

Big skunky nose, too much alcohol for me. Cloying.

Big skunky nose, too much alcohol for me. Cloying.

Oct 25th, 2014