Maturation
Matured in 100% new French oak barriques for 15 months.
Palate
Concentrated dark fruit, rich and powerful on the palate with velvety, svelte tannins.
Vinification
Hand-picked from the old contoured block 222, destemmed and whole berry sorted to open fermentation. 4-day cold soak, plunged 3 times daily with approximately 21 days on skins. Only the free draining’s were retained.
Range Notes
The Hickinbotham Block Series is a showcase of exceptional individual vineyard sites, each representing the pinnacle of varietal expression within our estate. This museum collection exemplifies the unique character and richness of our old vines, accentuating the distinct terroir of a singular block. Crafted from the exceptional Shiraz block 222. Renowned for its remarkable concentration of fruit, profound depth of flavour, and robust structure, this wine embodies the essence of the vineyard's terroir. The CS222 captivates with its remarkable length of tannin, allowing the flavours to evolve gracefully over time.
Vintage Notes
Winter rainfall nourished the vines then dropped off significantly for an unseasonably dry and windy Spring. A late Autumn rain slowed the ripening of the vineyard resulting in a further week and a half of hangtime, providing excellent tannin ripeness and allowed harvest to occur in a relatively cool weather pattern. Overall, a terrific result in the wines proving McLaren Vale’s strength as a viticultural growing region.
Region Notes
Block 222 – 0.88-hectare contoured Shiraz planting from 1971. Elevation 200-215m. Dark brown clay loam, overlaying a light grey, fine grain layered bedrock. Shiraz harvested 2-3 April 2014.
