2002 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Vineyard Grenache (1500ml)

Roman is quick to point out that this vineyard is situated literally across the road from the Clarendon Vineyard Grenache site, and yet displays a quite different aroma and flavour profile. Planted at the same time as the Clarendon Vineyard in 1920, this site faces North, which would account for the difference in flavour profile.

Tasting Note: Very deep colour, almost opaque black purple. The nose is lifted with aroma of earth and leather followed by spice and ripe plum. The palate is slightly less generous than the Clarendon Vineyard in terms of body weight, but delivers mouthfilling concentrated flavours of white pepper, confectionary and plum. Elegantly structured in the real sense of the word, with white pepper and spice persisting in the back palate. Fine grained tannins, followed by a very long plum, spice, raspberry and white pepper aftertaste.
Cellar 4-5 years (2007-2008)
Alc/Vol: 14.8%

RATING: 96/100

VALUE: XXXX/5

Robert Parker's Review
The Pinot Noir-like 2002 Grenache Old Vines Hickinbotham Vineyard is less sexy than the 2003, revealing more mineral and herbs as well as a more structured, harder character. Notes of smoke and earth emerge from this big, tightly-knit Grenache. Give it 2-3 more years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 12-15 years. I do not think it will ever attain the hedonistic heights of the 2003 Hickinbotham.
(Notes sourced from Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #155)
ROBERT PARKER'S RATING: 92 points