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White

2012 Brash Higgins Chardonnay Bloom

Chardonnay

  • Australia
  • South Australia
  • Fleurieu
  • McLaren Vale
Drink between 2021 - 2033 (Edit)
CT92 6 reviews
N.V.
Label borrowed from 2008
2008

Community Tasting Notes 6

  • mychurch wrote: 95 points

    March 9, 2021 - Online tasting with Jelle in Amsterdam

    I've sent a few of the AuzOx wines to Jelle these last 18 months and they really are interesting. This is possibly the pick of the bunch. Unlike the Crittendon or the Dappled versions, this really has sat in the barrel for 6 and a half years. The chardonnay seems to shine through a bit more than the Savignin versions, and while there are definite flor and oxidative notes, they are more integrated into the wine than i would expect. It takes a day to really open, but even on night 1 this was brilliant. There are lots of old champange notes, a bit of salinity and lots of grilled cashew. The finish is long and concentrated. Great stuff. No, its not vin Jaune, but thats a plus.

  • grapenomad wrote: 92 points

    July 28, 2019 - If you've been around for some time, you've probably encountered vin jaune ("yellow wine"). It's a wine that is matured oxidatively in barrel "sous voile", under a veil of yeast, like sherry's "flor". They have savoury characteristics that resemble dry Fino Sherry but, unlike sherry, they are not fortified. Brash Higgins' take on this style resulted in some spectacular juice. And it's only their second bottling. Chardonnay from sandy soils, matured for six and a half years in Burgundy barrels, with periodical addition of fresh white wine to feed the flor.

    Deep golden in the glass with amber hues. Really packs a fruit basket on the nose accompanied by oxidative notes of nuts, iodine and an amusing miso-edamame whiff. The mouthfeel is not oily and weighty like I've seen in the French counterparts, but does have this distinct richness to it. The high acidity and sharp aldehydic character make the wine feel very tightly-knit, structured and juicy, with a finish that lasts long into the night. Great potential on this, but there's not much to go around. Find it at Cloudstreet. Or Burnt Ends Cellars (if you're nice).

    1 person found this helpful Comment
  • Milliontown wrote: 91 points

    July 7, 2019 - Orange-gold/yellow in the glass. Smells more oxidised than microbial to me, has the big upfront character of bruised apple/bruised pineapple, orange peel, and sort of an overripe, almost-fermenting peach/kombucha vibe. That and a bit of oak spice in the mix, and a bit of the honeyed character I'd usually associate with botrytis.
    It's quite polished and attractive to just smell, with lots going on.
    The palate is pretty confronting to deal with at first. Massive sweet spot on the mid/back palate, and a hugely tangy, nutty finish. Feels somehow odd, combining that achingly dry rancio character with such an intense, almost cloyingly ripe fruit character. Big finish though, very tangy and quite long. Makes a little more sense with food.
    It's a pretty well done Jura knockoff, but it can't quite shake the big sunshiney fruit profile.

  • retired_and_roving wrote:

    June 24, 2019 - 2 weeks in Australia with a stopover in Singapore; 6/14/2019-7/1/2019 (Singapore, Sydney, Adelaide, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills): Tasted at the winery. So this was pretty different - more of almost a jura styled wine. Dry and oxidative with yeasty and bitter notes. Something to savor and think and on - but not probably a crowd pleaser.

    1 person found this helpful Comment
  • MC2 Wines wrote:

    June 24, 2019 - Return to Aus; 6/23/2019-7/5/2019 (Adelaide, South Australia wine regions, Tassie, Yarra, etc.): The last wine of a rather long tasting and so it seems that I didn't do a great job of taking many notes here. It's the oxidized chardonnay version. Think Jura. Very interesting and different. Again a wine I'd think of more for food. I will say it didn't trigger my 'yikes this is chardonnay, I don't like chardonnay' impulses so that's something.

    1 person found this helpful Comment
1 - 5 of 6 More notes

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JamesSuckling.com

  • By James Suckling
    5/15/2019 (link)

    (Brash Higgins Chardonnay McLaren Vale Bloom, White, Australia) Subscribe to see review text.

The WINEFRONT

  • By Mike Bennie
    4/19/2019 (link)

    (Brash Higgins Bloom) Subscribe to see review text.

Wine Definition

  • Vintage 2012
  • Type White
  • Producer Brash Higgins
  • Varietal Chardonnay
  • Designation Bloom
  • Vineyard n/a
  • Country Australia
  • Region South Australia
  • SubRegion Fleurieu
  • Appellation McLaren Vale

Community Holdings

  • Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
  • In Cellars 18 (72%)
  • Consumed 7 (28%)

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