Brash Higgins 2017 ‘R/SM’ Riesling/Semillon

A ‘field blend’ is an ensemble of different grapes from one vineyard block that are picked on the same day and fermented together, making a unique wine of place or a ‘vin de terroir’. Our version is from an elevated site along the Kangarilla foothills of McLaren Vale where one acre of Riesling (65%) and Semillon (35%), unusual bedmates, grow cheek by jowl. Picked on the same day, basket-pressed together then co-fermented wild in trusty barriques, this bright white wine has all the limey pucker and saline lift of a fresh margarita. Great summer drinking and a riot with oysters. We are proud that this wine tastes like the place from where it comes, 20 km from the Gulf of St. Vincent, a true coastal white.

‘Star bright in colour with a clear straw/green tinge. The nose is like a sea breeze, thanks to the sandy, marine fossil laden soils, with hints of lime blossom, and oyster liquor. Feels like a seaside wine, which it is, thankfully. A refreshing rush of minerality keeps things taut on the palate; textured layers of salinity and lime intermingle followed by a laser beam of tangy, margarita pucker. This field blend has all the emerald exuberance of Riesling cut with the lemony flesh of Semillon.’ – Brad Hickey, Vinitor, January 2, 2017.

Additional Information:

Harvest date: March 19, 2017 Hand picked
Vineyard: Saddlebags Hill Vnyd, Blewitt Springs
Grower: Adrian Scott
Viticulture: Sustainable
Geology: North Maslin Sands over ironstone
Irrigation: Dry Grown
Altitude: 250 metres above sea level
Planted: 1975 on RWT Trellising
Fermenter type: white Burgundy barrels and steel VC
Time in oak: 7 months
Oak origin: French
Oak age: 100% 4 year
Bottling date: December 22, 2017
Filtration: Coarse
Closure: Stelvin +
pH 3.24, TA 6.1 g/l, alc 11.9%

120 cases

Price: $39 per bottle, $468 per 12 bottle case