Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Peake Cabernet Shiraz 2022

51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Shiraz, and an expression of Australia. Still tightly bound, yet swirl, and this releases its delights. Dark choc, cocoa, slight meatiness, red berries, plenty of dusty red earth, black fruit skin, fine spice. Energetic yet tightly knitted on the palate. There’s a freshness and vitality, though it’s currently constrained and tightly wound. The coupling of Cabernet and Shiraz tannins offers velvet-like, almost-plushness, yet fine gravelly structure stretches out long and locks the frame in place for the fruit to envelope the space it crafts. Savoury salt-crusted fermented charcuterie and bresaola. This has a mouth-coating texture yet not weighed down or clinging. Simply holding shape and masterfully crafted. Quivering acidity, ready to fly through the muscular tone, stamina and strength with oodles of concentration. Points: 95/100

Wine Pilot ∙ 16th Aug 2025

A broody yet multifaceted nose of plum, cran-raspberry, anise, bay and pencil leads to a tightly wound palate of power and poise. Tannins are muscly but shapely, leaving room to showcase the plump redpurple fruit and herbs. Still in its infancy, this should be held another several years and then it should evolve gracefully until 2040 at least. Hickinbotham. Cellar Selection. Points: 95/100

Wine Enthusiast ∙ 2nd Jun 2025

51% Cabernet Sauvignon 49% Shiraz. Handpicked, destemmed and fermented separately and basket pressed. 17 days on skins for the Cabernet Sauvignon and matured for 15 months in Bordeaux barriques. 20 days on skins for Shiraz and barrelled down to 1-2 year old seasoned French and Austrian oak puncheons for 8 months with additional 10 months in seasoned foudre. The very finest parcels were selected and bottled. A rigorous winemaking explanation and deservedly as everything is meticulously weighted in both the vineyard and winemaking for Hickinbotham. Two worlds meet here and I’m not talking about Australia and the USA. It’s a wine that evokes both our past and future. Nostalgia is plucked from deep within with the kinship of the two varieties. Rhubarb, mulberry and red figs with an outline of blackberries and thyme. The beauty of the site plays an integral part too, providing depth and intensity of fruit and savoury coffee spice. This is a Claret that pays homage to days of old but made with oak consciousness and poise of tomorrow. The rapport between Cabernet and Shiraz is firmly established here and in drinking it, you’ll find any disagreeable thoughts put to rest, or at least till after you are done enjoying it. A truly beautiful wine. Drink now or in 10-12 years preferably with lamb backstrap with a pepper berry crust. Points: 97/100

Wine Pilot ∙ 1st May 2025

The stunning 2022 Cabernet Shiraz The Peake shows exceptional clarity of fruit, delicacy and detail. It opens with wafts of violet and rubbed sage over a generous core of pure blueberry. Exquisite balance is the key to the 2022, with ample flavor and a rich core of fine yet firm tannins singing over a long, sustained finish. This whispers rather than shouts and is all the better for it.  Points: 95/100

Vinous ∙ 23rd Apr 2025

52/48% cabernet sauvignon/shiraz from 1971 contour-planted vines; cabernet matured for 15 months in Bordeaux barriques, the shiraz in one- to two-year-old French and Austrian puncheons for eight months, then 10 months in a French oak foudre. The classic Australian blend rendered by the twin powers of winemakers Peter Fraser and Chris Carpenter, with shiraz and cabernet respectively. Named after John Peake, who established the first vineyard in Clarendon, and is also fittingly the peak of the range. The melding of the two varieties here is superb, a seamless intertwining, with shiraz gently flexing and cabernet calmly tensioning. A sophisticated note of oak seasons with ground coffee, clove and allspice over black and blue fruits, the wine building impressively with air. Excellent.  Points: 97/100

Halliday Wine Companion ∙ 9th Aug 2024

A full-bodied cabernet of precision and class. The results are more approachable, fragrant and exquisite than warmer years. Perhaps the tannins are not quite as refined and resolved. Yet the pimento lift to the aromas riffs on spruce, a smattering of garden herbs, green olive brine, red currants and pickled cherries. It has an immediacy and great gusto. I'd drink this across a shorter-term window. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.  Points: 94/100

jamessuckling.com ∙ 2nd Feb 2024