Origin: McLaren Vale
Region: South Australia
Grape(s): Chenin Blanc
Style: Light-bodied skin-contact wine
Alcohol: 13.5%
Hazy golden yellow in the glass. Beautiful aromatics, with much less VA than the last few vintages. Notes of yellow apple, peach, pear, some oxidized papaya. Plush on the palate, almost full-bodied. Just an explosion of tastes with an acidity that’s not sharp, nor overexpressed. A stunning balance of all its elements and a very long finish. The best version of CHN we’ve tried to date, kudos to Mr. Hickey.
Brad Hickey is a Chicago native who, after 10 years of working the floor, decided to move to South Australia and change the wine game by 360 degrees. He owns and organically farms a high-quality vineyard called Omensetter, where the majority of his fruit comes from – Shiraz, Cab Sauv, Nero d’Avola, Mataro and more. Long natural ferments and extended macerations are employed to boost mouthfeel, perfume and tannic structure, while oak – if used – is generally old.
