Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

The appearance is a dark inky black with just a slight hint of red and purple around the rim. The color does not fade away at any stage, indicating the youthfulness and the level of concentration.

A welter of aromas greets you with the most prominent being the ripe cassis and blueberry fruit. In support there are some herbal characters such as mint and eucalyptus that provide a contrast and relief, almost a delicacy to a wine that is quite intense and powerful.

All of the flavors evident on the bouquet are in force on the palate. Some toast and vanilla are a welcome addition to the multitude of flavors. The fruit characters are still the most prominent with the blueberry seemingly much juicier in the mouth. There is abundant firm but finely grained tannins that will give this wine longevity. You could age the wine safely for 12 years or more if you wish, although at the moment the wine is quite attractive drinking.

Look for red meat dishes with plenty of herbal scent. Lamb with rosemary or mint, beef with thyme or veal shanks with oregano as a major flavoring agent. The herbal characters in the wine will highlight the herbal flavors in these dishes.