Personalised Hickinbotham Clarendon The Nest Cabernet Franc 2020 14.5% 750ml

Tasting Notes

Vintage notes
The growing season was affected by a very hot spring, leading to the lowest yields on our record. When the grapes started their ripening process in January, the weather miraculously cooled to a very mild ripening season. This resulted in wonderful concentration of flavour, retention of natural acidity and brightness of fruit, delivering wines with beautiful finesse and balanced tannins.

Palate
A lusciously supple palate of cherry, perfectly balanced tannins and a hint of vanilla.

Aroma
The 2020 Nest shows aromas of ginger with floral notes of jasmine, cherry blossom and strawberry.

Vinification
Hand-picked, destemmed and whole berry sorted then 100% gently crushed. Cold soaked, native yeast fermentation pumped over daily with 21 days on skins. Basket pressed with light pressing included in free run directly to 50% new and used French oak barriques, matured for 16 months in Barrel. Bottled November 2021.

Region notes
Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard covers a steep cut of country from the ridgetops above the village of Clarendon to the Onkaparinga River in the gorge below. Since its establishment in 1971, the Hickinbotham Vineyard has become a part of Australias wine heritage, supplying fruit to produce many of Australias greatest wines. Breathing new life into this historic vineyard, winemakers Chris Carpenter and Peter Fraser are forging a new era of Hickinbothams prestigious legacy: building upon and honouring the vineyards acclaimed pedigree.

Cellaring potential
2022-2032

Grape variety
93% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot.

PH
3.65

Acidity
5.7 g/L

Expert Reviews

Ned Goodwin MW
95 Pointsout of 100.
This is softer and easier perhaps, than in the recent past. Lilac, chilli, blueberry and a sapid thrust of red fruit, vanilla-pod oak and cedar oak, applied impeccably. Beautifully done. Polished, plush and certainly not devoid of personality. Australia meets Napa. Milk-chocolate layering. Bury this and believe.

James Halliday Wine Companion 20233 August 2022