2023 Brash Higgins FRNC Cabernet Franc

Few wines in Australia have championed Cabernet Franc quite like Brash Higgins’ FRNC. From its first release, this wine has been at the forefront of the modern, fresh, and vibrant Cabernet Franc movement, proving just how exciting this variety can be in McLaren Vale’s unique terroir.

The 2023 vintage delivered ideal growing conditions with an even season and small berry set, leading to excellent concentration and balance. Sourced from a high ridge of an ancient sand dune in McLaren Flat, the fruit was handpicked, wild fermented, and left on skins for five weeks, before ageing for 15 months in old French oak to preserve aromatics and purity.

What we're left with in the glass is a translucent violet hue with a nose that leaps from the glass - jalapeño, alpine herbs, violets, and roasted bell pepper all swirl together, underpinned by rose petals and mulberry. The palate is silky and mouth-filling, with pure, ripe fruit, subtle spice, and papery tannins that glide into a long, smooth finish.

A Loire-inspired yet uniquely Australian take on Cabernet Franc, this is bright, fragrant, and dangerously drinkable - but with enough structure to age beautifully. It disappears fast every year, so don’t wait too long.

91 points
"This leads with a cool herbal thread, an aromatic spread of green pepper, bay, tea tree, green chilli, Worcestershire, tart blackberry and wild fennel. It’s lightly framed, supple through the palate, textural, a little saline, with that wild fennel note lingering through the finish, like chewing on the pleasingly bitter fresh seeds."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)