Brash Higgins 2023 ‘CHN’ Chenin Blanc

Our ninth single vineyard Chenin Blanc at Brash Higgins from Willamba Hill. A relatively steep, south facing 34 year old vineyard in the Blewitt Springs sub region of McLaren Vale, it is overlaid with the deep white beach sands distinctive to Blewitt Springs. We attempt to capture the salinity and marine fossil notes from the sandy, coastal soils, thus transporting you to the oceanside with each whiff and taste. Blewitt Springs geology begins some 50 million years ago at the mouth of what is now Maslin Beach (Australia’s first unclad beach) and runs some 30km Eastward up to the foothills of the Adelaide Hills. The grapes are fermented wild in neutral French barriques for 12 months to help accentuate this maritime effect and to build texture.  Only 175 cases of this dry, textural CHN Chenin Blanc were produced.

The CHN 2023 label is a detail from an oil on linen painting by the gifted Sydney artist, Alesandro Ljubicic, called “Try To Be A Rainbow To Someone’s Cloud” @alesandroljubicic

Review
“‘It’s leesy, textural, interesting, saline, minerally, distinct. It drinks with charm. Lemon verbena, lemon-ginger tea, ginger, papaya, quince. Totally cool. A vibrant personality. A kind of tropical cocktail feel here too. It’s exciting. It’s delicious. It refreshes. Kudos.” 92pts, Mike Bennie, Wine Front August 2024.

Additional information
Harvest date: February 12, 2023
Vineyard: Willamba Hill Vineyard, Blewitt Springs
Grower: Dr. Grantly Gill
Viticulture: Sustainable
Geology: North Maslin Sands over ironstone/clay
Irrigation: Drip Irrigation
Altitude: 250 metres above sea level
Planted: 1990 on single cordon trellising
Days on skins: 2-3
Fermenter type: White Burgundy Barrel
Time in oak: 12 months
Oak origin: French
Oak age: 100% 6 year
Bottling date May 10, 2023
Closure: Stelvin +
100% Chenin Blanc
pH 3.4, TA 6.1 g/l, Alc 11.9%

180 cases

Price: $35 per bottle