Delicious aged Shiraz from Down under!

JS94, WE94, and a 93 from Wine Spectator!

This is one for the Cab lovers out there. Loaded with critical praise, it shares much of the same qualities as many culty, triple-digit Aussie reds.

I mean, DANG, at this price? You could spend $100 on a Mollydooker, d’Arenberg, Kay Brothers or Yalumba. Or you could spend less than half that to get this aged beauty.

Hickinbotham is a relatively young property in the region, dating back to the early 1970s. In 2012 Jackson Family added it to their portfolio and set to work leveling up the quality and production facility.

A huge improvement came from bringing 100-point winemaker Chris Carpenter the fold. He’s the man behind many of Jackson Family’s premier labels - Lokoya, Cardinale, Mt. Brave, La Jota, and Shafer to name a few. And while he’s passed the torch to assistants at many of these places, he remains laser focused on this project.

Flippin’ good stuff from ground zero for the world’s best Shiraz - McLaren Vale. And with 12 years it’s beautifully integrated at this point, yet with barely a trace of aging. It comes loaded with a generous core of mixed dried berries, plus fabulous secondary notes of bergamot tea leaf, those addicting orange chocolates from Trader Joe’s, Tahitian vanilla beans, nutmeg and dried tobacco leaf. Supple, soft, and polished on the tongue it’s a powerful and delicious example at a terrific price.

94 points - James Suckling “This has seductive aromas of plums, nutmeg, iodine and cocoa. Polished and delicious, with a medium to full body and firm, fine tannins. Polished and classy. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”

94 points - Wine Enthusiast “As Australian vineyards go, this isn’t that old, having been planted in 1971. Chocolate and vanilla shadings frame bowls of mixed berries in this full-bodied, powerful wine. It finishes long and intense, outlined by dusty tannins.”

93 points - Wine Spectator “Intense and expressive, with rich plum, black cherry and fig flavors that are supple and juicy in equal measure, balanced by accents of vanilla bean, mocha and orange zest. The finish is velvety, lingering with a spicy grace note. Drink now through 2026.”