2017 Hickinbotham Clarendon The Nest Cabernet Franc, McLaren Vale

The estate is particularly proud of this wine, with the attention to every nuance the wont of the regime: cold-soaked, berry-sorted, naturally fermented and extracted to glean real tannin:fruit transfer to glass. The oak sourcing is, as always, superlative. Franc's bell to chilli pepper lift gently lilts over a torrent of dark fruit allusions. The tannins, licked by bitter chocolate and tomato bush, are impeccably wrought, tightly knit, and milk chocolate smooth; neither hard nor aggressive. Just juicy. The length is very impressive.