Brash Higgins 2018 ‘ZBO’ Zibibbo-Amphora

Zibibbo is an ancient, aromatic white grape from the Muscat family grown in the warmth of the Mediterranean and South Australia. From fruit grown at Ricca Terra Farms in the sunny Riverland, the varietal was chosen for its potential to develop length and complexity from longer skin contact, the wine is fruity yet bone dry; reminiscent of something from Alice in Wonderland, where things aren’t always as they seem.

Hand picked, the golf ball sized, bronze fruit was destemmed into waiting terracotta amphorae. A wild ferment ensued with the caps hand plunged twice daily until the ferment finished and the skins sank into the wine. The skins, seeds and juice remained covered in situ for six months. A natural FLOR layer of yeast volunteers itself and covers and helps protect the wine. The ‘free run’ was siphoned off in spring and combined with the pressings. The wine settles before being racked and sent to bottle unfiltered and unfined.

‘Cloudy and a diaphanous, pale yellow in appearance. The wine is dry yet exudes tantalising herbal, spice and stone fruit aromas. Complex nose of peach, graphite/pencil shavings, cut ginger, cloves, elderflower, white pepper, Belgian white ale, and wild honey leaps from the glass. On the palate, the wine has a soft entry but with good grip, an earthy sweet chalk/clay element with notes of lemon oil, tangerines, tea and cinnamon apples.’ – Brad Hickey, Vinitor, December 12, 2018.

Additional information
Harvest date: March 13, 2018 Hand Picked
Vineyard: Ricca Terra Farms, Barmera, Riverland
Grower: Ashley Ratcliff
Viticulture: Sustainable
Soil Type: Red loam over limestone
Irrigation: Dry Grown
Altitude: 32 metres above sea level
Planted: 1945
Fermenter type: clay amphorae
Time on skins: 150 days in amphorae
Bottling date: December 7, 2018
Closure: Stelvin +
pH 3.5, TA 5.7 g/l, alc 11.8%

220 cases

Price: $39 per bottle, $234 per 6 bottle case