The Wine Front – Brad Hickey and family have worked some magic with nero d’avola in the past and decided to graft over additional nero to their Omensetter home vineyard. This is the sixth vintage of this great nero d’avola wine. Produced in amphora on the Brash Higgins estate. Macerated for 180 days, incredibly. Sweet cherry pie, sweet spice, touch of pretty leafiness, rose petal and pot pourri, really pretty perfume. Hello! It’s a lighter and brighter rendition of this wine, crisp edged, brisk and frisky, lifted on pepper and faint herbal character, cherry and berry fruitiness, but cinched and tight and refreshing. Really good, understated and vibrant wine here.

The Wine Front – From Omensetter vineyard, and 2016 this was the first year as a certified organic vineyard. About 25% whole bunch in the ferment too. Typically bold flavoured but well balanced wines emerge from the variety from this site. I like the dichotomy in the Brash Higgins range between the wild-edged alt-wines and the McLaren Vale staples. Something for everyone. Scents of sweet ‘n’ herbal spice, touch of dried orange peel, amaro, sweet earth, but the main message is deep, dark forest berry fruitiness. Generous in the palate, stains with black berry, emery board tannins, earthiness, more peppery character. Generous McLaren Vale shiraz, finds excellent balance and a flourish of ample, lip-smacking flavour. This will be so good for those seeking bold flavour and some lushness in a red, but inherent drinkability. Nails it.

The Wine Front – Fruit grown on the family estate, Omensetter Vineyard, then matured for 15 months in French oak. Quite classic, but with the BH lift and freshness. No additions in winemaking, natural ferment. Lots going on in the bouquet with blueberry, currants, liquorice, salt bush and dark chocolate. Juiciness here, warm mulberry, a sheath of fine tannins, crisp acidity, lots of lingering fruit and spice flavour, so vibrant, plenty of the DNA of cabernet but in a more jolly way, but not without tannin and architecture. Bigger boned, compelling stuff.