Hickinbotham Clarendon The Nest Cabernet Franc 2021

95 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Chris Carpenter and Pete Fraser; the Burt Bacharach and Hal David of wine. Chris does the Bordeaux varieties, and Pete the Rhone. I say a little prayer for both of them. Anyway, what the world needs now, is more excellent Cabernet Franc. Blackcurrant, dark raspberry, a little dried flower and herb perfume, mint, iodine, creamy chocolate and spiced cedar oak, also a dash of paprika. It’s dense and packed with graphite tannin, a lovely ferrous edge to it, tobacco, red and black fruit, deep and rich, but also fragrant to close with chocolate and pencilly tannin. Serious wine here, the highlight being the integration of (plentiful) oak and fruit, and a superb muscular tannin profile. Touch and go for 96 points really.

94 POINTS

Ned Goodwin - Halliday's Wine Companion

Fermented spontaneously across 16 days on skins punctuated by daily punchdowns, 15 months in French barriques (60% new), an approach dictating a certain classicism of feel to this savoury, full-weighted and immensely expressive wine. Such an excellent variety, too, as well suited to the warmer maritime nature of this zone as it is to the Loire. Aromas of pencil lead, graphite, redcurrant, chilli and pimento. Streamlined. Lithe of tannic persuasion and long of finish. This is delicious.