  We carry out an analysis of the full set of ten $\bar{B}\to D^{(*)}$ form
factors within the framework of the Heavy-Quark Expansion (HQE) to order
$\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s,\,1/m_b,\,1/m_c^2)$, both with and without the use of
experimental data. This becomes possible due to a recent calculation of these
form factors at and beyond the maximal physical recoil using QCD light-cone sum
rules, in combination with constraints from lattice QCD, QCD three-point sum
rules and unitarity. We find good agreement amongst the various theoretical
results, as well as between the theoretical results and the kinematical
distributions in $\bar{B}\to D^{(*)}\lbrace e^-,\mu^-\rbrace\bar\nu$
measurements. The coefficients entering at the $1/m_c^2$ level are found to be
of $\mathcal{O}(1)$, indicating convergence of the HQE. The phenomenological
implications of our study include an updated exclusive determination of
$|V_{cb}|$ in the HQE, which is compatible with both the exclusive
determination using the BGL parametrization and with the inclusive
determination. We also revisit predictions for the lepton-flavour universality
ratios $R_{D^{(*)}}$, the $\tau$ polarization observables $P_\tau^{D^{(*)}}$,
and the longitudinal polarization fraction $F_L$. Posterior samples for the HQE
parameters are provided as ancillary files, allowing for their use in
subsequent studies.
