Sub-Vineyard, Micro-Parcel Wines

A stunning insight to Grenache's delicious expression of variation in terroir within tiny portions of a vineyard. 

Have you ever dug deep into something you are interested in? Straight down the rabbit hole of discovery. When I was a kid I collected with my pocket money, one per week, 112 editions of Horse Sense magazine. Binders and everything. (I still have them!)

Zooming to 12 or so years ago, our laser focus became McLaren Vale Grenache. Aphelion was born from that focus.

Rob & I have been down the Grenache rabbit hole ever since!

We have explored wine from a single vineyard made 4 different ways. This to show the versatility of fruit and potential of Grenache from McLaren Vale. 

We have explored making wine from different single vineyards made the same way. This to show just how much terroir and vintage variability influence wines. 

And now, we have looked even closer. 

Took a figurative microscope to one incredible vineyard.

Split one of the highest corners of Grenache within it into three.

Aphelion dove deep into the connection between place, and perfume-plus-palate in a glass.

This project is as James Halliday described Aphelion in the Wine Companion - 

"Akin to a miniature painting done with single-hair paintbrushes."

Introducing The Hickinbotham Series 2024

Three intriguing wines that explore the power of terroir within tiny, discrete micro-parcels of a single vineyard.

Beyond a single vineyard, to a sub-vineyard, micro-plot level.

This extraordinary Series uncovers that from even as close as just meters apart, terroir differences are clearly discernible in McLaren Vale Grenache wines.

As clear as lines are on a contour map.

So much goes into the terroir of a particular point on this earth.

Climate, sunshine, rain, geology, soil, nearby vegetation, aspect, elevation, topography, soil–water relations, microbes and much more.  

It’s little wonder that there are differences within even small areas of a vineyard.

Now you can taste the terroir differences from just metres apart clearly in these three McLaren Vale Grenache wines.

The extremely limited production Hickinbotham Series is from a triangle of three very small Grenache blocks at one of the highest elevation points of the whole Hickinbotham of Clarendon vineyard. 

111 is the smallest block at 0.14 ha located at the top of the triangle.

112 a slightly larger contour of the triangle at 0.35 ha, in the middle.

113 hugs the base contour of the triangle and is slightly larger in area than 111 + 112 combined at 0.65 ha.

500kg of grapes from each went into this project.

All picked the same day. 

All made the same way.

Strikingly different, yet with the same exquisite core of balance.

The Hickinbotham of Clarendon Vineyard

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A nearly 50 year legacy is the backbone of the acclaimed Hickinbotham of Clarendon vineyard.

Perched atop a sweeping ridgeline that marks the northern edge of McLaren Vale, just above the township of Clarendon, 186 hectares of remarkable country unfold. At up to 260 metres above sea level, the site offers breathtaking views across the ancient Kaurna land of the Onkaparinga Gorge.

The first vines were planted in 1971 by Alan David Hickinbotham. Since its acquisition by the Jackson family in 2012, the vineyard has embraced organic and biodynamic farming practices, officially certified since 2019.

Of the estate’s 85 hectares under vine, fruit was never sold lightly. Only a select few — including Penfolds, Clarendon Hills and Hardys — were granted access, with grapes contributing to flagship wines like Penfolds Grange and the Eileen Hardy Shiraz.

Viticulturalist Michael Lane expertly manages the organic and biodynamically farmed Hickinbotham vineyard. Together Michael and Aphelion winemaker Rob Mack worked closely together to identify the ideal picking date. 

Terrain map of Hickinbotham vineyard with Grenache Blocks 111, 112 and 113 highlighted.

Winemaking

All three wines are made with the same method.

This is to showcase the delicious ability of Grenache to showcase not only the influence of terroir at a vineyard level, but at a micro-parcel level just meters apart. 

All three blocks were picked the same day. On the 19th March 2024. 

One 500kg portion from each block was destemmed and fermented as whole berries in separate half tonne picking bins.

During the two week fermentation, Rob undertook twice daily hand plunging to gently develop flavour and tanin. 

All three were then pressed to seasoned, neutral French oak 300L hogshead barrels.

All wines were bottled on 4th February 2025.

Stelvin closures to the bottles were used.

The Wines

Aphelion Hickinbotham Series Block 111

Altitude: 245m to 250m ASL

This is the smallest and steepest of the three blocks, and also is the highest in altitude.

Crunchy red berry fruit flavours are carried by juicy and crisp acidity.

The finest and most elegant of the three with a light to medium body with a lovely purity. 

The fruit dances along the palate followed by the fine tannins which spread out to provide significant length of flavour. 

360 bottles produced.

Aphelion Hickinbotham Series Block 112

Altitude: 240m to 245m ASL

The next block down from 111, Block 112 is around twice the size of Block 111.

Cinnamon and nutmeg spices float from the glass with red berry fruit in support.

Tannins are moderate with a cat’s tongue texture and provide a good framework for the flavours through the palate.

Acidity is slightly lower than the block 111 wine which results in a rounder mouthfeel.

 Flavours linger long on the palate thanks to the unctuous concentration and density of fruit.

360 bottles produced.

Aphelion Hickinbotham Series Block 113

Altitude: 235m to 240m ASL

The largest and the lowest altitude of the three blocks, Block 113 is around the size of the other two blocks combined.

This block also has the least steep slope of the three blocks.

The fruit moves into the blue and black spectrum and the body of the wine is medium – the fullest of the trio.

Tannins are dense and well-rounded and carry the blackberry and plum fruit long through the palate.

Fresh acidity keeps the wine vibrant and light on its feet, but this is undoubtedly the most hedonistic of the three block wines.

360 bottles produced.

Conclusion

Not only can McLaren Vale Grenache can evoke sense of place of a whole vineyard, it can also highlight with great clarity the difference that mere metres can make within a vineyard - at a sub-vineyard, micro-plot level.

Release Dates