2002 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

This is the wine that Roman refers to as ‘My Latour’ and is not afraid to draw parallels and even admit that is where the inspiration came from. This is the biggest Cabernet – a wine of monumental structure yet displaying a degree of flamboyance.

Tasting Note: Opaque black crimson colour with deep crimson hue. The nose is relatively tight, but that is almost expected of this wine. Notes of violets and blackcurrant emerge over a subtle spice end note. The palate takes one by surprise, it’s far from being tightly knit, and is explosive with flavour and delivers exceptional length and depth. Flavours of blackcurrant, blackpepper and spice are enhanced by a hint of confectionary and fine dry tannins. Perfect balance, with exceptionally long aftertaste of blackcurrant, blackpepper and spice.
Cellar 10-15 years (2013-2018)
Alc/Vol: 14.8%

RATING: 98/100

VALUE: XXXXX/5

Robert Parker's Review
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham Vineyard may be the finest Cabernet I have yet tasted from Clarendon Hills. While stunning from barrel, it is even more prodigious from bottle. An explosive bouquet of creme de cassis, melted licorice, new saddle leather, cedar, and Asian spices is followed by a full-bodied, marvelously concentrated effort that tastes like an Australian version of the profound 1990 Lynch Bages. Huge, concentrated flavors inundate the palate. The wine is seamlessly constructed with a brilliant integration of acidity, tannin, and wood. This fabulous, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon should be at its finest between 2008-2020+.
(Notes sourced from Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #155)
ROBERT PARKER'S RATING: 95 points