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 and good acidity from the Carignan completes the deal.
Reviews: 2021 MCC
93 points – “A blend of 40/30/30% mataro/cinsault/carignan. From the neighbouring Lennon Vineyard, it’s a fine release of this cuvée, the cool year yielding a wine of intense perfume and real poise. Pulpy red cherries, crushed rose petals, cracked pepper and clove, this is mid-weight of feel and lithe and fresh in delivery. Lovely.” – Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
93 pts – “The Mataro really shines through straight away, with blueberry and wild-herb aromas intertwined. Violets too. Nice fruit ripeness at the core here. There’s a deep, fleshy texture and intense blueberry, blackberry and candied-orange flavors abound. Very drinkable now.” JamesSuckling.com
90 pts – “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, The Wine Front
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
