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.