Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Revivalist Merlot 2022 14% 750ml

Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Revivalist Merlot 2022 14% 750ml

Tasting Notes

Aroma
The 2022 Revivalist Merlot shows dark plum, mulberry and savoury notes of a little toast and hazelnut.

Palate
The silky tannins are accompanied by a long finish.

Winemakers comments
Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard covers a steep cut of country from the ridgetops above the village of Clarendon to the Onkaparinga River in the gorge below. Since its establishment in 1971, the Hickinbotham Vineyard has become a part of Australia’s wine heritage, supplying fruit to produce many of Australia’s greatest wines. Breathing new life into this historic vineyard, winemakers Chris Carpenter and Peter Fraser are forging a new era of Hickinbotham’s prestigious legacy: building upon and honouring the vineyard’s acclaimed pedigree.

Cellaring potential
2024-2034.

Vinification
Hand-picked, destemmed and gently crushed. Native fermentation pumped over daily with 16 days on skins. Basket pressed with light pressings included in free run for lifted palate structure. Matured in French oak barriques, 50% new, and a portion in foudre for 12 months. 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.

Grape variety
100% Merlot

PH
3.61

Acidity
5.8 g/L

Expert Reviews

Ned Goodwin

95 Pointsout of 100.
From two blocks planed in 1976 and 1989. Crushed fruit, ambient ferment, with 16 days on skins; matured in French barriques (60% new) and foudre for 12 months. Merlot has had a tough trot in this country, but Californian winemaker Chris Carpenter is well schooled in the ways of the grape. This harnesses a more rounded fruit profile, but also with proper linear tannins and drive. It’s a relatively elegant expression, though with a depth of plum and mulberry, subtle florals, graphite, roasted hazelnut and a balanced gloss of classy oak.
Halliday Wine Companion8 August 2024