Winemaker Notes
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.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Syrah Hickinbotham Vineyard is opaque purple-colored with aromas of crushed rocks, toasty oak, tar, licorice, bacon, blueberry, and blackberry. Muscular and large in scale, it will profit from a decade of cellaring and drink well through 2030.
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Wine Spectator
Big, rich and juicy, with plum, blueberry and a range of sweet spices. The fine tannins wrap around the generous mouthful of flavors, which linger powerfully. A touch of coffee adds interest, and the finish just doesn't quit. Best from 2010 through 2020. 500 cases imported.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.