“A lesson for many a winemaker around the world” is what Jancis Robinson said about the 2015 Brash Higgins ZBO. The whole tasting note reads, “Big and bold and satisfying from grapes that you could hardly give away in the past. Skin contact has given this wine real energy. A lesson for many a winemaker around the world…. One of the most interesting wines, creating a silk purse from a sow’s ear. 16.5 pts”. This note was from a wide tasting of 83 new wave Australian wine producers which Jancis recently took part in Sydney curated by wine writer and presenter Mike Bennie. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/offpiste-australians-tasting-notes
Hard to believe that we’ve come this far with this little wine, from grapes picked off a World War II planted vineyard in the Riverland. Grower Ashley Ratcliff of Ricca Terra Farms can take a lot of the credit for showing us the fruit and encouraging us to take a punt. This, the 3rd vintage, seems to have really hit its stride.
As wine writer Mike Bennie writes in The Wine Front:
“Sourced from Ricca Terra Farm in Riverland. I reckon the wine has found a good groove again in 2015, or winemaker Brad Hickey has fine tuned things. Feels fresher, crisper, less textural, but more drinkability is the by-product. Zibibbo grapes spend five-or-so months in amphora.
Spicy perfume, highly aromatic, highly evocative, pot pourri, banana, clove, ripe citrus and incense scents. In palate, slippery, lemon oily, rich but also pretty fruitiness, clean acidity freshening things and then finishes pleasingly herbal. Curious wine. Compelling in its own way. The grape variety is prominent. Easy to like. Easy to drink. 93pts”
Extremely proud of this wine. Grab some while you still can. BH