Print this Wine         1998 Clarendon Hills "Hickinbotham" Merlot   CLARENDON                 January Release   Merlot       The 1998 vintage has shown itself to be one of the best for reds throughout South Australia. This wine further enhances the reputation of both the vintage and its winemaker, the inimitable Roman Bratasiuk. Roman is widely regarded throughout the world as a producer of supreme Shiraz and Grenache, however his skills are equally shown in a wide range of the worlds classic grape varieties. Careful selection of fruit from the finest vineyards and then meticulous treatment in the winery is absolutely crucial in producing these amazing wines. Looking at the wine it has deep dark red tones with just a hint of cloudiness. Roman refuses to filter his wines firmly believing the process unnecessarily strips flavor and perfume from the wine. There is certainly no shortage of perfume with this wine. It has a wide ranging spectrum of scents including plum and cherry fruit, rose petals and violets to a herbal quality with tarragon and fennel being evident. The wine has immense weight on the palate. Some may say this is a tad too big for a Merlot, and if you are looking for a light, fluffy soft Merlot then by-pass this elegant monster. There is a great chewy texture across the palate indicating low yielding fruit. The flavors extend for a very long time at the back of the palate, and as they start to wilt the tannin clicks in with chalky, powdery mouth-puckering characters that begs you to put the wine down for several more years. I would estimate that the wine needs at least another 10 years before reaching its peak, perhaps even 15 years. Do try a bottle now and you’ll no doubt agree to cellar the wine. If you are sampling a bottle in the near future grab a runny, gooey fully ripe brie style cheese and use the creamy unctuous texture to soften up the tannin structure.         How do I download Hi-Res Labels?

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