Review: Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Nest Cabernet Franc 2019

More McLaren Vale than Cab Franc, but who cares when it’s an enjoyable drink?

Then again, everything Hickinbotham is unwaveringly great, and this is no exception. From a 0.9ha vineyard planted in 2013. Cold soak, wild ferment, 15 days on skins, basket pressed. Includes 7% Malbec and 2% Merlot. Yield 6t/ha. Numbers: pH 3.53 TA 6.2g/L.

Deep, dark and molten, it’s a black wine of considerable sexy oak and power. Seduction, weight, silken tannins. Right bank Bordeaux, but with a McLaren Vale mid palate. Lots of oak but not unbalanced. The flavour is abundant for such moderate alcohol. High class.

Best drinking: good now, better in a few years, and fine drinking for at least fifteen more. 18/20, 93/100. 13.5%, $75. Hickinbotham Vineyard website. Would I buy it? Worth a bottle.

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