Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Grenache 2014

Roman Bratasiuk founded Clarendon Hills in 1990 and embarked on a journey that would irreversibly change the landscape of the Australian wine industry. Trained as a Biochemist, Roman taught himself how to make wine. Roman’s deeply prophetic vision saw him introduce the single vineyard concept to Australian wine in 1990. Roman also pioneered the Australian Grenache category with the release of Australia’s first single vineyard, 100% Grenache: the 1991 Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Grenache. Roman also unearthed and discovered one of Australia’s greatest single vineyards with his discovery of the Astralis Syrah vineyard in Blewitt Springs in 1990. Roman’s undying dedication to his craft over the last 34 years and persistent pragmatic refinement across the last 3 decades has seen Clarendon Hills develop a world-wide, first-class reputation. Roman’s relentless work highlighting these remarkable old vine Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet vineyards spread throughout the Blewitt Springs and Clarendon sub districts is something to behold.

The Hickinbotham Grenache vineyard, is just metres from the Clarendon Grenache site, however sits on the Northern, sunnier side of the hill; and offers a stark contrast to the pure, organic expression seen just metres away. The array of floral violet and rose petal notes intertwine with black raspberry, dark cherry, boysenberry and cassis. Perfectly composed without any element of over-ripeness, superfluous alcohol or extroversion, with time in the glass interesting hints of pistachio, a whiff of clove and an interesting Sarsaparilla and graphite-like element nuance with the fruit and take this to the next level.