Tasting Notes for Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Vineyard Syrah 2005

Red Wines	Syrah/Shiraz	McLaren Vale	Australia

My Rating (circle) :

Date Printed: 5/20/2013

Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Vineyard Syrah 2005

(search item no. 102975)

collectible wine

boutique wine

The Wine Advocate rating: 97 points
Wine Spectator rating: 95 points
PRICE ON 5/20/2013: $74.99

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2006 The Wine Advocate rating: 97 points
2006 International Wine Cellar rating: 94 points
2006 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
2004 Wine Enthusiast rating: 96 points
2004 Wine Spectator rating: 95 points
2004 The Wine Advocate rating: 95 points
2004 Australian Wine Companion rating: 94 points
2003 The Wine Advocate rating: 96 points
1999 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
1999 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
1998 International Wine Cellar rating: 94 points
1998 The Wine Advocate rating: 92 points
1998 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points

Winemaker's Notes:

This wine forms part of Clarendon Hills' 'Grand Cru' classification.

This masculine and often tightly-wound expression is often dominated by harder-edged and powerful characters. Recessed and concentrated, this wine has a mineral under-fabric that accentuates the boldness of its understatement.

The 2005 Hickinbotham Syrah, highlights the quality of the fruit that is produced from forty-one year old vines, planted on hard clay and ironstone soil. This wine boasts a blackened crimson color as well as an amazing bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, black licorice and espresso. On the palate the wine has huge depth of concentrated black fruits and dark chocolate with fine grained tannins provide texture on the palate and a very rich and intense finish.

My Notes:

Additional wines from Clarendon Hills:

2005 Romas Grenache (search item no. 103351)
2006 Astralis Syrah (search item no. 117767)
2006 Bakers Gully Syrah (search item no. 117769)
2006 Blewitt Springs Old Vine Grenache (search item no. 115630)
2006 Brookman Merlot (search item no. 117766)
2006 Brookman Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (search item no. 117757)
2006 Brookman Vineyard Syrah (search item no. 117771)
2006 Clarendon Grenache Old Vines (search item no. 117761)
2006 Hickinbotham Grenache (search item no. 118362)
2006 Hickinbotham Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (search item no. 118363)

About Clarendon Hills:

Clarendon Hills is a small family-run winery based in Clarendon, South Australia. The company was founded by biochemist, Roman Bratasiuk, in 1990. The story of Clarendon Hills is one of passion, dedication and commitment to exception wine. It all began when this biochemist and wine lover decided to produce his own wine. Though he'd never trained as a winemaker, Roman let himself be guided by his refined palate and scientific knowledge. Following his favorite producers and preferred styles, Roman sought to make a version of the wines he loved.