Hickinbotham The Revivalist Merlot 2022 from Clarendon in McLaren Vale is a graceful, high‑country Merlot that takes the variety very seriously, all violet perfume, depth and polish rather than soft and soupy simplicity.

In the glass it’s deep garnet‑purple with ripe dark plum and mulberry at the core, layered with black cherry, subtle red flowers, earthy tones, graphite, fresh tobacco, roasted hazelnut, a lick of cocoa and classy French oak spice. The palate on Hickinbotham The Revivalist Merlot 2022 is medium‑ to full‑bodied yet composed – plush, soulful plum fruit, suave fleshy but linear tannins, lively acidity and a long, mouth‑filling finish that feels energetic rather than heavy. It’s cleaned up with critics too: 95 points Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion), 95 from Shanteh Wale at Winepilot and 93 from Erin Larkin at The Wine Advocate.

Food‑wise, it’s brilliant with roast lamb and rosemary, beef fillet with red wine jus, duck with cherry glaze, beef and black bean stir‑fry or a mushroom and lentil ragù, where its dark fruit, savoury complexity and fine tannin really shine. Enjoy it now with a good decant for that plush, fragrant profile, or cellar 8–12 years to see more earthy, truffly, savoury layers evolve in the glass.