Brash Higgins 2019 ‘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 a sandy, elevated site along the far eastern foothills of the Blewitt Springs sub-region in McLaren Vale. Here one acre of Riesling (70%) and Semillon (30%), planted in 1975 by a German farmer, grow cheek by jowl. Picked on the same day, these unusual bedmates spend a couple days on skins together before being basket pressed then co-fermented wild in trusty French barriques. This bright white wine has all the emerald exuberance of Riesling cut with the lemony flesh of Semillon. Great summer drinking, and a riot with oysters, we are proud that this wine tastes like a true coastal white; its origins a mere 20 km from the Gulf of St. Vincent.
“Star bright in the glass, with moss, lemon zest, peach kernel, toasted grain and hybrid tea rose on the nose. Mouthwatering ocean breeze and a sappy, juicy abundance of fresh lime and white peach juiciness on the silken palate. The finish is transparent to a veritable carpet of mineral matter – albeit a levitating, vibrantly undulating one! Crushed stone, alkali, mineral salts and iodine combine with herbal and protein-rich flavours for something approximating a blend of oyster liquor and clam stock that set my salivary glands to palpitating.”- Brad Hickey, Vinitor, September 23, 2020
Additional Information:
Harvest date: March 4, 2019
Hand picked
Vineyard: Saddlebags Hill, 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 barriques
Time in oak: 10 months
Oak origin: French
Oak age: 100% 6-10 year
Bottling date: Jan 20, 2020
Filtration: Coarse Regimesh
Closure: Stelvin +
pH 3.32, TA 5.67 g/l, alc 14.2%
125 cases
Price: $39 per bottle, $468 per 12 bottle case
