2014 Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Revivalist Merlot

95 POINTS

James Halliday - Halliday's Wine Companion

From vines planted '76 and '89 at 220-240m, hand-picked, destemmed, whole berry-sorted and gently crushed, cold soak, 18 days on skins with twice-daily pump overs, matured for 15 months in French oak. Shows that serious merlot can be made in McLaren Vale (or the Clarendon Hills sector thereof). The bouquet is fragrant and accurately signals the gently savoury/dried herb undergrowth of the cassis and plum that sits firmly on top. Good tannins tie the knot.

93 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Deep red colour with the merest tint of purple; rich chocolate, vanilla, plum and dark berry aromas, without any leafiness. Medium to full-bodied and very soft, with supple, rounded tannins and a long carry. Very approachable.

93 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Plum, red fruits, gamey, tobacco, cedar and vanilla oak. Medium bodied, strawberry and plum, savoury, grainy graphite tannin, cool acidity, tomato paste flavour on the finish.

93 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

560 cases. From vines planted in 1976 and 1989. 18 days on skins. Basket pressed (some blended back; heavier pressings kept separate). All French oak (Bordeaux coopered). Sturdy wine but with plenty of flesh and flow. Tannin churns throughout but black cherry, boysenberry, blackcurrant and loamy earth notes carry the day. Mint, fennel and herb notes too. It’s drinking well now but it’s not going anywhere in a hurry; this will sail on for many a year. Clear quality, if not necessarily X-factor.