Pikes The Hill Block Cabernet 2021 - Clare Valley, Australia

95/100 Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
94/100 Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion
92/100 Stuart Knox, The Real Review
91/100 The Wine Front
95/100 Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot (2020 vintage)
95/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage)
94/100 Ken Gargett, Tasting Book (2020 vintage)
92/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage)
Bronze - Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2020 vintage)
93/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2019 vintage)
90/100 James Suckling (2019 vintage)

5 Stars - Halliday Wine Companion
People Choice Award 2023

Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot "...this is a cracker. Opaque maroon in colour, we have aromas of plums, chocolate, truffles, fleshy notes, bergamot and coffee grinds. Still very young and it really does need time. The palate is seductive and seamless with very fine tannins and juicy acidity. I’d be putting this aside for the next three to four years and then enjoying it over the following decade, over which period it will surely continue to improve."

Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion "Beautiful aromatics starring blueberry, violet floral lift, a sniff of cassis, dried rosemary and dark chocolate. Supple on the palate with lush cassis and plum fruit characters squished through a sheath of light, suede tannin and gently spiked with dried herb and black peppery spice. Flavours linger with bright, cassis fruit and more of the spice, gently. Satisfying expression, refined, restrained, but vibrant. It's very good."

Stuart Knox, The Real Review "Bright ruby and purple tones in the glass. Plums and woody herbal aromatics. Medium bodied with supple plum fruit that glides through the core while hints of graphite and black olive tapenade linger underneath. Tannins are finely wrought through the length and the whole package is subtle and supple to the end."

Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot "I’ve got a bit of an apology to make to the Clare Valley – it has taken me a while to come around to the local Cabernet Sauvignon – too long. Yes these can be brooding monsters in tough vintages but when they are on song, they are so very good, and up there with the best shiraz from the region. This version is a powerhouse style that never loses its way with tremendous balance that will help it to drink well over the medium term. Bright deep ruby, it opens with deliciously pure cassis fruits with a strong Clare undertow of warm slate beautifully integrated with high quality oak. Great energy follows on the palate which is more in a mid-weight style before dense yet fine mouth-coating tannins take over to deliver a long and strong finish. Exceptional and will drink well for some time to come." (2020 vintage)

Ken Gargett, Tasting Book Ken Gargett "Dark magenta, the nose is alluring mix of licorice, black olives cassis, tobacca leaf, chocolate and coffee beans. The palate moves more to a sour cherry note. Very good grip here. Savoury in style, this is well structured with fine but firm tannis, and excellent lenght. The finish offers aniseed, five spice notes and more cassis." (2020 vintage)

Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Sandalwood, cocoa, plum and blackberry compote. In the mouth the wine is concentrated and dense, with a heated lift through the finish. This is a full wine, with weight and gravitas... chocolatey, spicy and moving to viscous. This will go very well in time, but for now, it remains a little frisky (and very fresh)." (2020 vintage)

Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deep red/purple hue, with a strong crushed gumleaf aroma, tomato-leafy too, and the palate echoes this with an edgy and quite astringent taste, which includes some bitterness. This is raw, callow and strident, and demands cellaring." (2020 vintage)

Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Still in an awkward youthful stage, with the tannins appearing a touch too raspy and the palate not entirely harmonious. Never fear. It will get its act together. It already has all the elements in place: the mulberries, the cassis and currants, the baking spices and freshly rolled tobacco and sprinkling of herbs. It's medium bodied and refreshing but needs to go back into the cellar for a few more years. No doubt it will change the outcome. Cellar door only." (2019 vintage)

James Suckling "A bold and ripe red-plum and redcurrant nose with a herbal edge and leafy tones. Medium-bodied, bright and juicy with red-plum and redcurrant flavors." (2019 vintage)

Pikes is a prestigious winery in South Australia's Clare Valley, established in 1984 by Neil and Andrew Pike, whose viticultural roots go back to the late 1800s. Situated in the picturesque Clare Valley, the Estate is comprised of approximately 100 hectares of rolling slopes in Polish Hill River, an eastern sub-region of the Clare Valley.
Known for its cool climate and diverse grape varieties, Pikes showcases premium wines with distinct characters and flavors due to the unique terroir and altitude.

After an almost 20-year career with Penfolds Wines and Southcorp Wine Group, Andrew joined Pikes on a full-time basis in 1998 to oversee viticultural operations and manage the growing family business.

Pikes is particularly renowned for its high-quality Riesling and other cool-climate wines, praised for vibrant acidity, citrus flavors, and exceptional aging potential. Whilst they are best known for world-class Riesling, they have been growing Shiraz and Cabernet for 35 years and have 20 different grape varieties planted on their estate, producing a wide range of wine styles to suit all tastes.

Pikes pride themselves on producing quality handcrafted wines, that reflect vintage, variety, and region. The Pike family has been producing quality wine, beer, and aerated waters in South Australia since 1886 it is a family tradition of which they should be very proud.

Their vineyards in Clare Valley grow various grape varieties, with a strong commitment to sustainable viticulture and environmental responsibility.

Their portfolio includes Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and unique blends, all crafted with a dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Over the years, Pikes has garnered numerous awards, establishing itself as a top producer in the Clare Valley, and gaining recognition both nationally and internationally for their excellent and consistent wines.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.