A new label for vigneron Alan Hickinbotham, the fruit for this wine comes off his Biscay Road vineyard. With 46 hectares of biscay soil that is ten feet deep, this is a new project aside from his Paringa and 3 Rings labels. As Hickinbotham says, the dry, cracking biscay clay would be something the late great Shane Warne would have enjoyed bowling on. Personally, I have nearly lost a leg not far from this site on Krondorf Road. Those cracks are deep!
Like its Biscay Road Shiraz sibling, it sees 18 months in French oak. Big, muscular and brooding, this is a bludgeoning swipe outside offstump for six that lands well into the stand at deep-mid-wicket. Teeth staining dark plums land with varietal roasted capsicums, blackberries and blackcurrants in hot pursuit. Tense and coiled in the mouth, it reaches long with fine spices, mint, menthol, tar and a little cedar. Blackberry jube sweetness tucks in behind and is a common thread that pins this all together. Wonderfully tannic, give it some air and you'll see it at its best.
Drink to eight years+
91/100
Region: Barossa
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