96 points - “An exceptional cabernet of flare and precision. Dried sage, bay leaves and a smear of black olives serve as a savory balance to the wave of currants and mint, all riveted to refined tannins and a briny maritime freshness. The more I spend time in the Vale the more I realize just how good cabernet can be. A leader of the pack. Drinkable now, but best from 2030. Screw cap.” - Ned Goodwin (jamessuckling.com)

96 points - “From the original 1971 contour-planted vines and a 2002 block; crushed to open fermenters; a minimum of 21 days on skins; matured in French barriques (60% new) for a total of 18 months. It’s a cabernet of deep and brooding properties but not girth or heft. Indeed, there is considerable refinement here. Cedar and currant, ripe mulberry, cassis, plum and olive, the pitch of leafiness keenly judged, with proper ripeness achieved at modest alcohol. An equally refined but effective line of tannins draws effortlessly long, with oak a key player but stylish about it. An excellent release.” - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points - “Handpicked, destemmed to open top fermenters. 21 days on skins basket pressed to 60% new French oak barriques for 14 months, blended and matured for a further 4 months in French oak. This wine has always had me, at ‘hello’ it’s partly due to its blue tinges of blueberry and lilac but mostly because the wine draws you in, rather than smacks you over the head with its Cabernet -esqueness. Yet all those markers are here too. Blackberries baking in a pie, sage and mulberry. Oak plays its integral role as you might expect it would with clove, mahogany and cinnamon quill. Lets face it, the wines screams pedigree and expertise, Hickinbotham knows Cabernet and Cabernet knows them. Here is demonstrated beautifully and is drinking like a dream on release and will reward time and time again in 5, 10, 15 years. Drink with a scotch fillet so supreme you can cut it with a butter knife.” - Shanteh Wale (Wine Pilot)

96 points - "Abundant on the nose, this is everything one hopes for from Cabernet Sauvignon. An envelopment of violet and red berried florals, crushed slate, black plum skin, tightly woven wild spice, coffee smoke and a brush of charred cedar forest. Swiftly followed by a rush of supple, firm and tongue-coating tannins, lifted with acrobatic acidity, seemingly effortless and nimble at the highest of heights. This is mid-weight, yet there’s a freshness and delicacy here that belies that. A wine of structure, with beautiful fruit cloaked delicately around a long-lived frame. Elegant, classy, and finely structured. This is a brilliant Cabernet. McLaren Cabernet should get more of a look in if this is an example of what can be achieved." - Cassandra Charlick (Wine Pilot)

94 points - “The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Trueman is a claret style. This is composed of gravel and blackcurrant aromas with a strong, cedary oak tone. A dense backbone follows, with blackberry flavors amped up with marked acidity and tannins providing strong foundations to enjoy after at least another decade in the cellar.” - Angus Hughson (Vinous)

The 2022 Trueman reveals blueberry, sage, dark chocolate, black olives, currant and savory notes with refined tannins.
winemakers comments

Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard covers a steep cut of country from the ridgetops above the village of Clarendon to the Onkaparinga River in the gorge below. Since its establishment in 1971, the Hickinbotham Vineyard has become a part of Australia’s wine heritage, supplying fruit to produce many of Australia’s greatest wines. Breathing new life into this historic vineyard, winemakers Chris Carpenter and Peter Fraser are forging a new era of Hickinbotham’s prestigious legacy: building upon and honouring the vineyard’s acclaimed pedigree.
vinification

Hand-picked, destemmed, sorted and gently crushed to open top fermenters. Pumped over daily with a minimum of 21 days on skins. Basket pressed with light pressings included in free run directly to 60% new and used French oak barriques. Blended after 14 months and matured for a further 4 months in French oak before bottling. Bottled December 2023.
vintage notes

The 2022 growing season followed very similar conditions to 2021, though slightly cooler. There were favourable winter rains and a mild flowering and fruit set period. The cool ripening period took place between late January through to harvest in March. Yields were well balanced, and we were pleased with the fruit ripeness, intensity, freshness, and natural acidity.