2022 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola

Highly Rated
Australia's most elite Nero d'Avola. Amphora-fermented, naturally-made - another intriguing release from Brad Hickey.
4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
4 Reviews

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Sale price$45.00
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Description

When it comes to Nero d'Avola in Australia, Brash Higgins' NDV is in a league of its own. Brad Hickey has been pioneering this Sicilian variety in McLaren Vale since 2009, and his 2022 release marks the 12th vintage of this drought-tolerant, sun-loving grape. It's a Nero d'Avola that speaks fluently in both Italian and Australian, blending tradition with innovation in a way that sets it apart.

Crafted in a style that honours its Sicilian roots, the NDV is wild, spicy, and brimming with energy. What truly makes this wine special is its amphora ageing process. The grapes are fermented wild in beeswax-lined clay amphoras, a technique that preserves the transparency of the variety and allows the wine to age on skins and seeds for six months. This ancient method brings out layers of complexity that you won’t find in your average Nero.

Crimson in colour, the NDV bursts with aromas of mezcal, black cherry, tomato, and Indian spices, with a hint of orange peel—a nod to its distinct amphora style. On the palate, it’s like sipping a Negroni cocktail, full of pomegranate, dark raspberry, and morello cherry, all balanced by a sweet-sour cherry acidity. The finish is long, with fine-grained tannins and a savoury edge that demands a second glass.

The 2022 vintage benefited from a cool, breezy February that slowed down the ripening, resulting in excellent acidity and depth of flavour. Organic farming, hand-picked grapes, and gentle winemaking have made this wine a benchmark for Nero d’Avola in Australia.

Perfect for those seeking adventure in their wine glass, the NDV is a must-try if you’re exploring Italian varieties on Aussie soil. 

95 points
"A deeply brooding expression of nero, this is bristling with savoury flavour: black plum skin, olive, dried black cherry, panforte, amaro, chicory root, tobacco, roasted hazelnut, bitter coffee. Time on skins has built a formidable wall of tannin, but what a pleasure it is, the chewy, mouth-filling impact of long extraction of natural tannin, pressed judiciously and at a mindful point. It’s an imposing, almost imperious wine, with alcohol creeping up, but it all makes such perfect sense. It’s an impressively individual take on the variety. Bravo."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

The first to graft Nero d’Avola in McLaren Vale to our organic estate Omensetter Vineyard in 2009, this twelfth vintage of the drought tolerant Sicilian varietal was picked in early March after a cool and breezy February eased the pace of the ripening Nero grapes. 2022 to the point was dry with low yields and terrific acidity.
The transparency of the Nero d’Avola grape was preserved in our “NDV” by using gentle, ancient techniques and naturally occurring wild yeasts. The grapes were destemmed, save 10%, then fermented wild and aged on skins and seeds for six months in locally made 200L bees-wax lined clay amphoras (aka clay pots).

“Crimson in colour, with hints of mezcal, tomato, black cherry, Indian spices and stem ginger on the nose. Orange peel also present which is usual in this wine. Reminiscent of a Negroni cocktail, angostura bitters and all. A pomegranate, bright dark raspberry and morello cherry mid-palate balanced by a refreshing sweet and sour red cherry acidity. The wine finishes with fine grained, chain link tannins as well as some savouriness. Decanting is always recommended for amphora wines” – Brad Hickey, Vinitor, May 1, 2024.



Additional Information
Harvest date: March 02, 2022 Hand picked
Vineyard: Omensetter Vnyd
Grower: Brash Higgins
Viticulture: Organic Certified
Soil: Red clay over limestone (Ngaltinga Formation)
Fermenter type: open 200L amphora, wild yeast
Cap management: hand plunged two times daily
Days on skins: six months
Time in amphora: Six months
Amphora origin: Adelaide, Bennett’s Magill Pottery
Lining: McLaren Vale bees-wax
Bottling date: January 11, 2023
Filtration: coarse
Closure: Stelvin +
100% Organic Nero d’Avola from Omensetter Vineyard
pH 3.5, TA 6.9 g/l, Alc 14 %

140 Dozen

95 points - "Fermented in amphora and on skins for six months with about 20% whole bunches. A deeply brooding expression of nero, this is bristling with savoury flavour: black plum skin, olive, dried black cherry, panforte, amaro, chicory root, tobacco, roasted hazelnut, bitter coffee. Time on skins has built a formidable wall of tannin, but what a pleasure it is, the chewy, mouth-filling impact of long extraction of natural tannin, pressed judiciously and at a mindful point. It’s an imposing, almost imperious wine, with alcohol creeping up, but it all makes such perfect sense. It’s an impressively individual take on the variety. Bravo." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

Customer Reviews

4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
Based on 4 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 3 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
4 reviews
  • NC
    Nigel C.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    1 year ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2021 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
    Reviewing
    2021 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Why aren't we all drinking Nero?

    Love Brash, Love Nero...match made in heaven!

  • MD
    Matthew D.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    2021 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
    Reviewing
    2021 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Close your eyes and you're almost in Sicily...

    Transported me back to sitting in Messina overlooking the toe of Italy... ah those pre COVID days...

  • NC
    Nigel C.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2021 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
    Reviewing
    2021 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Super Drinkable

    Great Wine went down too quickly.

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Brash Higgins

Brash Higgins is the label of winemaking American-turned-honorary-Aussie, Brad Hickey.

In his former life, Hickey was one of America's top sommeliers, working for many years crafting some of New York's finest wine lists. He came to Australia and fell in love with McLaren Vale and local vigneron Nicole Thorpe, with whom he now produces highly characterful, minimalist wines from their much loved Omensetter vineyard.

Hickey's wines are extremely expressive. They fall in two camps - the wines sourced from Omensetter vineyard and those sourced from friends around the Vale and the warm, dry Riverlands.

Brad Hickey AKA Brash Higgins - McLaren Vale, SA Brash Higgins

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