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Hickinbotham Winery Brooks Road McLaren Vale Shiraz

Brooks Road exhibits the compelling dynamic between savoury and fruit flavours which is textbook Shiraz from Clarendon. Sweet blueberry and rich red fruits interlace with notes of clove and menthol. The palate is expansive but pure finesses with a beautifully balanced acidity leading to a silky finish.

The Shiraz fruit is sourced from Hickinbotham’s 300 Block, 200 Block and 126 Block. The fruit is hand-picked, partially destemmed and crushed into open-top fermenters. Following a cold soak, the grapes see a gentle maceration of plunging and drain and returns during peak fermentation. Drained and pressed after 18 days on skins, the free-run goes directly to barrel and no pressings are included. Aged 15 months in predominantly 500-litre French oak puncheons (30% new) and a 25 hectolitre round foudre.

Region McLaren Vale

The McLaren Vale wine region is located between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf of St Vincent just South of Adelaide in South Australia. Historically it was John Reynell who established Chateau Reynella in 1838, and Thomas Hardy who purchased the historic Tintara in 1876, that kick started the development of the McLaren Vale wine industry. The climate is generally considered warm, although different aspects, altitude and the effect of the cooling ocean breezes moderate the climate within the different sub-regions of the Vale. A large number of soil types are present, although red-brown loams dominate. The biggest viticultural challenge is the potential for drought and the overall lack of water. Full bodied, robust and plush reds typify the McLaren Vale style. Plantings are dominated by Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, with smaller plantings of whites including Semillon, and Chardonnay. More recent plantings of Mediterranean varieties particularly suited to the climate, including Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Savagnin and Fiano have also been very successful.