Hickinbotham The Peake Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2020
- 97
- $175
- Drink by: 2022-2037
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The great Aussie blend, this is 52% Cabernet and 48% Shiraz. It is sourced from four discrete blocks, all planted more than half a century ago, in 1971. All are low yielding. The varieties were kept separate for fermentation. All grapes were destemmed. The Cabernet spent 15 months in fine-grained Bordeaux barrels, 60% of them new. The Shiraz went to one and two year old barrels, spending 6 months on lees. Overall, the wine saw 50% new oak. At this stage, barrel selection took place with the best blended together for this wine. Although the wine certainly climbs the heights, it is not named after any local mountains, not that there are any, but rather, after Mr Edward John Peake, who planted the first vineyard in Clarendon around 1850. Black/purple. This is deep, dark, brooding and coiled. Serious underlying power with balance, force and focus. Notes of aniseed, blackberries, dark chocolate, axle grease (in a good way) and coffee beans. Great length here with soft powdery tannins. The two grapes meld together perfectly, neither dominating, but both enhancing the other. Plush and soft and cuddly, this is a cracking red. 15 years plus if needed, but good luck keeping your hands off it for that long. Love it.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
