2015 Brash Higgins Bloom
WINEMAKER: Brash Higgins
VARIETAL: Chardonnay
REGION: McLaren Vale, SA
VITICULTURE: Certified Organic
The 2015 BLOOM, our third incarnation since the original 2008 version, is a slowly aged white wine made in a style inspired by the “sous voile”, or “under-the-veil”, oxidative methods found in France’s Jura and Burgundy region. Here, McLaren Vale Chardonnay from the sandy Blewitt Springs sub-region has been matured for six and a half years in selected white Burgundy barrels (4), periodically adding some fresh white wine to feed the ‘flor’ (flower) or (veil) growing as a natural, healthy protective barrier of yeast on the wine’s surface. The last four years the barrels were turned on their side to prevent any tampering (mainly to keep the winemaker from drinking it) and to completely seal the bung air tight. No topping was done during this final ageing period. We aged the bottled wine an additional 8 months in our cold cellar.
DO NOT MISS OUT.
“Amber in hue, the wine’s nose is redolent of honey, toffee apples even whiffs of Springbank whisky come to mind. Butterscotch, desiccated coconut, ripe citrus and apple, curry powder coupled with lovely seaspray and nutty whiffs. Focused entry with rich palate weight, the wine tightens as it flows across the tongue to the back of the mouth. 2015 BLOOM has lively acidity which dials up the wine’s briny/salty complexity on the back end followed by an iodine/peaty twang and gently nutty finish that rolls.” – Brad Hickey
Brad Hickey first came to Australia in 2007 to work vintage with renowned South Australian winemaker, Chris Ringland. It was here the Aussies bestowed the bright-eyed and brash New Yorker with the nickname Brash Higgins, and where he met his partner and fellow vigneron Nicole Thorpe. Their 17-acre vineyard in McLaren Vale has been certified organic since 2017. Inspired by the Italian amphora-fermented wines of Sicily and Friuli, BH ferment several of their wines in bespoke amphora by Adelaide potter John Bennett.