Brash Higgins 2022 Grenache “Smart Vineyard”, Clarendon

One parcel handpicked Grenache from the heritage Smart Vineyard in the hilly sub region of Clarendon. Planted in 1955, this is one of the real grand cru sites in South Australia. Hand-picked and fermented wild on whole bunches and whole berries for two weeks, the pressed wine spent twenty months in two trusty 500L French puncheons. 

The artist is well regarded Sydney painter Alesandro Ljubicic. Ales’s work also graces our Chenin Blanc label. You can see more of his fantastic work and contact him @alesandroljubicic

“There’s a slinky, soft and swishy feel to this wine. So too some woody, spicy nuances, hazelnut, over the dark cherry, choc-raspberry and panforte characters. It’s got quite a bit of heft, curiously, and then slips into a mellifluous, sweet fruited feel. Indeed, ripeness and faint jammy characters are part of the make up, so too a warmth. The tannins just a touch scratchy and itchy, emery board with firmness and some twiggy bitterness. In all that, a mesh of traditional, per se, grenache vibes, with a nod in the direction of the en vogue ethereal and finer, lighter versions coming out of McLaren Vale. It knows an audience and invites a few more in.” 93+ Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

Additional information
Harvest date: March 2, 2022 Handpicked
Vineyard and Grower-Smart Family
Viticulture: Sustainable
Vineyard planted: 1955
Fermenter type: Open, wild yeast
Cap management: Hand plunged twice daily, 50% whole cluster
Days on skins: 22
Time in oak: 20 months
Oak origin: French
Oak age: 100% 6 year Puncheon
Bottling date: August 9, 2024
Closure: Diam 5
pH 3.58, TA 6.1 g/L, alc 14.2%

120 six packs