Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast

A blend of Shiraz (70%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). The Cab Franc comes through loud and clear on the palate and the long finish, where the plum fruit is taut, even a little tart. The fleshy berries and plums on the nose, though, say Shiraz. Well-behaved, and a successful if unusual blend.

Stuart McCloskey

Robert Parker once called the ’02 Henry's Drive Cabernet Sauvignon “Sexy, hedonistic and Australia’s version of a hedonistic vintage of Lynch Bages” which is a powerful statement. Today, there is a typical Pauillac nose of cedar wood, pencil lead and cigar-box. Lots of new saddle leather too. The palate is very elegant, beautifully balanced with slightly dusty tannins – the texture smooth and sensuous. This is Cabernet Sauvignon which offers sophisticated drinking pleasure. Still impressive and never fails to put a smile on my face (including several Oz winemakers who have taken a bottle whilst visiting). A stupendous wine showing all the hallmarks of a mature Claret. Just a joy.

Classic cooler-season Coonawarra cabernet with wonderfully deep scents of cassis, plums and cedar/chocolate oak over lightly herbal and dusty, leafy nuances. Long, smooth and fine-grained, the palate is stylish and structured, presenting intense, vibrant cassis, mulberry and plum flavours harmoniously balanced with fine-grained oak and tight-knit firm tannins. Jeremy Oliver

97 Points - Robert Parker

The most backward and structured of the Cabernet offerings is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham Vineyard sourced from 50-year-old vines. It is a glass-coating opaque purple with complex aromas of new oak, smoke, espresso roast, chocolate, blackberry, and black currant. Full-bodied, opulent and intensely flavored, the wine has great depth and enough structure to permit a decade of evolution. This lengthy effort should provide pleasure through 2035. 

96 Points - Jay Miller (erobertparker.com)

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham Vineyard is the most muscular and densely packed of the Cabernets. This opulent effort will evolve for a minimum of a decade and drink well through 2036.The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham Vineyard is the most muscular and densely packed of the Cabernets. This opulent effort will evolve for a minimum of a decade and drink well through 2036. Roman Bratasiuk’s Clarendon Hills is one of the world’s great wine estates. The wines are all 100% varietal...

96 Points - Jay Miller (erobertparker.com)

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham Vineyard is the most muscular and densely packed of the Cabernets. This opulent effort will evolve for a minimum of a decade and drink well through 2036.The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham Vineyard is the most muscular and densely packed of the Cabernets. This opulent effort will evolve for a minimum of a decade and drink well through 2036. Roman Bratasiuk’s Clarendon Hills is one of the world’s great wine estates. The wines are all 100% varietal...

92+ Points - Jay Miller (erobertparker.com)

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham offers the most saturated color. The aromatics feature Asian spices, violets, and incense along with expressive black fruits. Structured and tannic, bordering on austere on the palate, it is a muscular, brawny effort that will require 6-8 years of cellaring to become approachable.

92+ Points - Jay Miller (erobertparker.com)

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Hickinbotham offers the most saturated color. The aromatics feature Asian spices, violets, and incense along with expressive black fruits. Structured and tannic, bordering on austere on the palate, it is a muscular, brawny effort that will require 6-8 years of cellaring to become approachable.

92 Points - Lisa Perotti-Brown (erobertparker.com)

The 2008 Hickinbotham Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has a very deep garnet-purple color and intense notes of black currant juice, Provence herbs, kirsch, chocolate, espresso, pencil shavings and iron ore. Full-bodied, very crisp and rich with a high level of fine tannins, it has a long coffee laced finish. Drink it 2012 to 2018.