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)
Customer Reviews
Price Bracket | $41 to $50 |
Type | Red |
Body | Medium Bodied |
Variety | Nero d'Avola |
Country | Australia |
Region | McLaren Vale |
Australian State | SA |
Feature |
Natural/Lo-Fi Organic High Score |
Reviewed By |
Halliday Wine Companion |
Critic Score |
95 |
Alcohol | 14% |
Size | 750ml |
Vintage | 2022 |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Brash Higgins
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