2022 Hickinbotham Mr. Grant Malbec

Highly Rated
Only the second ever varietal Malbec bottling from the famed Hickinbotham vineyard.

Price:
Sale price$90.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

The second release of Malbec from Hickinbotham is a serious statement of intent - powerful, plush and characterful, with all the hallmarks of a classic Clarendon red.

Named after Clarendon’s first settler, Mr. Grant is drawn from a high-elevation, east-facing block planted in 2013. In 2022, the fruit came in pitch perfect, delivering a wine that’s deep in colour and layered in flavour. You’ll find raspberry compote, fresh herbs and rose petals on the nose, then a dark, supple palate dusted with cocoa, graphite and cracked pepper.

It’s not just showy fruit either - there’s real structure underneath. Malbec’s firm, round tannins lend shape, and a touch of Cabernet adds extra drive. It’s a wine that brings together plushness and polish with a savoury backbone, handled with care in the winery and aged in a mix of new and seasoned French oak.

Another compelling addition to the Hickinbotham range, and a must-try for fans of the variety.

96 points
"Glass-staining purple... full-bodied and dense... loaded with mouth-coating tannins... hugely impressive malbec."
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

94 points
"Glossy ruby... lavender, lilacs, boysenberries... classy oak and impressionable immediacy of the fruit."
- Ned Goodwin (jamessuckling.com)

94 points
"Deeply coloured and flavoured... dark berries, mulberry, floral hints... silky, mildly plush fruits."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points
"Red berries, toffee apple, potpourri, sandalwood... floral lift... a thrill ride of bright acidity and texture."
- Shanteh Wale (Wine Pilot)

96 points - “Colossal glass-staining purple colour, impenetrable in the glass. Char-oak and fully ripe black fruits to sniff, the palate full-bodied and dense, concentrated and powerful, loaded with mouth-coating tannins and massive flavour. It could be enjoyed now - with hearty food - but will surely reward cellaring for many years. A hugely impressive malbec.” - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

94 points - “A deep, glossy ruby. Buoyant notes of lavender, lilacs, boysenberries and a sheer, joyous grapiness. And yet the tannic restraint is drawn tight. The oak is classy and beautifully handled across a medium-bodied texture. There is a great deal to like here. Most of all, the impressionable immediacy of the fruit. Drink or hold. Screw cap.” - Ned Goodwin (jamessuckling.com)

94 points - “Malbec with a splash of cabernet sauvignon (7%). The malbec was planted in 2013. Fermented as whole berries with pump-overs, with 17 days total on skins; matured in French barriques (60% new) for 15 months then blended and aged for two months in older oak. Deeply coloured and flavoured, it feels like a good amount care has been taken here to extract the bountiful flavours without too much grip. It is there and with authority, as the variety dictates, but it’s in lockstep with silky, mildly plush fruits. Dark berries, mulberry, raspberry, a floral hint and integrated oak notes, clove and pepper.” - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points - “93% Malbec and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. The second release of Malbec. Handpicked sorted, destemmed and 100% whole berries retained. Basket pressed and matured in French oak barriques of which 25% was new for 15 months. Perhaps a dialled up version of the Malbec we are coming to know and love in Australia. Here red berries are luminous with red toffee apple, raspberry and Gala apple skin. A hint of potpourri and sandalwood shows off the sweet oak spice. There is a wild lift of florals thanks to some intracellular fermentation and this really pops in the aroma and middle palate of this wine. A touch of creeping ivy and winter pine needle with stirring levels of bright acidity. You are in for a thrill ride with this wine, buckle up and bring out the Sichuan Mapo tofu for a full bodied experience.” - Shanteh Wale (Wine Pilot)

This is the second release of Malbec from Hickinbotham, named after the first resident of Clarendon and the nearby Grant’s Gully Road. Sourced from Block 105, 0.9Ha of Malbec planted 2013 at 250m elevation. Hand-picked and selectively sorted, destemmed with 100% whole berries retained. Open native fermentation with gentle pump over regime during maceration period of 17 days. Basket pressed with free run and light pressings barreled down to French oak barriques, 30% new, for 15 months. Blended at 15 months and packed down to older Bordeaux barriques for 2 months before bottling. Bottled December 2023.
vintage notes

The 2022 growing season followed very similar conditions to 2021, though slightly cooler. There were favourable winter rains and a mild flowering and fruit set period. The cool ripening period took place between late January through to harvest in March. Yields were well balanced, and we were pleased with the fruit ripeness, intensity, freshness, and natural acidity.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Malbec
Country Australia
Region McLaren Vale
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Real Review
Wine Pilot
Critic Score 96
94
Size 750ml
Vintage 2022
Closure Screw Cap

Hickinbotham

The Hickinbotham vineyard is somewhat of a legend amongst the Australian winemaking community.

Planted in 1971 in the Clarendon region, fruit from this important site has contributed to some of the most iconic wines in Australia's history, including Penfold's Grange, Eileen Hardy and Clarendon Hills.

Recently, the vineyard has undergone somewhat of a renaissance after being purchased by American wine juggernaut, the Jackson family, and being placed into the winemaking care of Yangarra winemaker Peter Fraser and respected American winemaker, Chris Carpenter.

These are elite premium wines that are made limited quantities and are built to mature gracefully. The ultimate addition to any serious collector's cellar.

Michael Lane, Peter Fraser & Chris Carpenter Hickinbotham Vineyard

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