Brash Higgins 2021 ‘MCC’ Mataro / Cinsault / Carignan

In 2013 we were asked by a new grower what grapes we’d be keen to see planted on his vineyard. Immediately we suggested Mataro, Cinsault and Carignan, three stalwart red grapes of sunny Southern France, a region that McLaren Vale bares a strong climatic resemblance to. It took a few years to get a crop from the new plantings, but in 2017 our first field blend from Lennon Vineyard came to fruition. All the fruit was hand picked on the same day and co-fermented wild with heaps of whole bunch Mataro to develop the peppery notes we wanted. Sweet cherry fruit flavours from the Cinsault and notes of wild roses from the Carignan complete the deal and provide the desired balance.
”
I reckon you could say this is confidently styled as a just-shy of medium weight super-slurper, soft and sweet fruited, chillable (perhaps) red of easy drinking style. It doesn’t get out of second gear (enough complexity per se) or shape itself with an ideal of fancy tannin, but what’s hear is fragrant, gulpable, ribald red-blue-black fruited, spicy enough gear to please all comers and deliver an easy drinking experience. I’d love this with yum cha, was the word association that came to mind.” Mike Bennie, Wine Front, August 25, 2024.

Additional information
Harvest date: All fruit handpicked March 19, 2021
Grower: Michael Lennon
Vineyard: Lennon Vineyard
Geology: Cracking clay over limestone
Viticulture: Sustainable
Fermenter type: open two ton, co-ferment
Blend: 40% Mataro (all whole bunch), 30% Cinsault, 30% Carignan
Days on skins: 18 days
Oak type: 100% French hogsheads, 4-10 year old
Bottling date: Nov 8, 2022
Closure: Stelvin +
pH 3.49, TA 6.6 g/l, alc 13%

325 cases

Price: $35 per bottle