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Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Revivalist Merlot 2014
McLaren Vale, South Australia, AustraliaThe Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard, planted since 1971, covers a steep cut of the country from the ridgetops above Clarendon, to the Onkaparinga River in the gorge below. Jackson Family Farms is the current owner, and the wines are made by Australian Charlie Seppelt and American Chris Carpenter. ‘Revivalist' is said to refer to the extensive vineyard work on the canopy structure of vines planted in 1976, but it may just as well apply to the notion of restoring some decency to the merlot grape. I love the silky, earthy fruit flavours that spring from the bottle. A pre-maceration lasts about 96 hours before it is fermented open top where it spends another three weeks on the skins before 15 months in French oak. It was hardly a perfect vintage with a dry spring, a January heatwave and heavy February rains and a cool finish. No matter, this is fun to drink with its Bing cherry aromas, dried figs and a fragrant, savoury finish. I love the elegance here.Tasted: 27 February 2017Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $79.99 | 750ml | private wine shops |
| AB | $80.00 | 750ml | |
| MB | $80.00 | 750ml |
Grape: Merlot
