Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard is a historic, high‑elevation site in McLaren Vale known for producing some of Australia’s most sought‑after Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, long used by iconic wineries before the estate began bottling its own wines in 2012. Its combination of altitude, dry‑farmed vines, and meticulous viticulture has made it one of the region’s most celebrated vineyards.
A shining display of why Trueman is one of the winery’s most highly regarded wines. Violet, blueberry, purple olive and cedar aromas lead to rich blackberry and plum flavors. Tannins are long and layered, delivering exceptional depth of flavor and a long, seamless impression that ages gracefully.
95 James Suckling A fresh and fragrant cabernet with violets and dark rose-like floras, cassis and blueberries. There is also a decent serving of spicy oak in the mix. The palate is smoothly arranged on sheets of formidably strong tannins, which are carried seamlessly into the finish. A stunning cabernet. Best from 2022.
94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The inky purple 2016 Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon is a super effort. It boasts intense, classic aromas of pencil shavings and cassis on the nose, then delivers rich waves of velvety but structured fruit on the full-bodied palate. If there's any complaint, it's that it's perhaps a bit too monolithic, but it's a young wine and should add layers of complexity given enough time in the cellar. It's not unapproachable now, but it probably won't fully hit its stride for at least five years and then be drinkable for at least a decade after that.
94 Wine Spectator Juicy and vibrant, showing terrific purity to the raspberry and black cherry flavors at the polished and refined core, with supple tannins and details of Earl Grey tea, violet and toasted cumin. Impressive for the seamless harmony and the creamy texture, this shows a tug of grip from the tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2035. 2,650 cases made.
93 Wine & Spirits There’s a sense of coolness to this wine, from the deep, rosy black-cherry color to the foresty fruit—black plum and blackberry with an evergreen edge. That freshness includes a gingery spice and the scent of asphalt after a rain. This is a balanced, medium-weight cabernet, delicious with duck, or with meaty roast eggplant.
92 Decanter Very unusual mix of marzipan, dry chocolate and blackcurrant. It is quite tannic, but does have some violet scent and sap to lift it. Sarah Jane Evans: Textbook aromas: blackcurrant with a hint of green pepper. This is a modern and glossy approach to Cab. Fleshy blackcurrants and a firm undertone of cedar. Tina Gellie: Quite a jammy Cab, but still has that cassis and green pepper note, plus soft vanilla oak and grippy tannins.
