Zette Cahors 2005

Zette Cahors 2005

  10:18    Stu.

---

Zette is a secondary label of the rather well known Domaine de Lagrézette, owned by luxury goods label Cartier, with wine production overseen by the Rolls-Royce driving Michel Rolland. This wine is made in a slightly more modern style, entirely tank fermented, but...

Read More

Hollick 2008 'Icon' Release Dinner

Hollick 2008 'Icon' Release Dinner

  07:21    Stu.

---

Hollick: established 1982, Jimmy Watson winning Coonawarra stalwart, at the crossroads that many family owned businesses face, as founder Ian Hollick looks to enjoy the fruits of his labours, and daughter's Mel and Kate - both already working in the business for 6 years...

Read More

Attollo 'The Black Wine' Malbec 2007

Attollo 'The Black Wine' Malbec 2007

  20:10    Stu.

---

Julian Scott is the Winery Manager for Flametree Wines, also making his own wines under the Attollo label.  This is Julian's first wine from 2007. Malbec is one of the permitted varieties of Bordeaux, is a marginal variety at best there nowadays, is the key variety in Cahors and has really made a name for itself in Argentina.  Increasingly being found in Australia, where in dry and warm...

Read More

Waywood Wines Pinot Grigio 2011

Waywood Wines Pinot Grigio 2011

  10:30    Stu.

---

Opened this alongside the Te Aro Pinot Grigio, an interesting comparison regardless of differences in vintage and region. Lovely clarity to the wine, a faint golden tinge to it.  Pronounced apple and pear - good aroma - a hint of blossom, some citrus providing...

Read More

Wild Soul Shiraz 2008

Wild Soul Shiraz 2008

  20:54    Stu.

---

I kept coming back to this wine over 5 days, it barely seemed to budge, indicative of a pretty good life ahead.  Opened a touched bretty, not distractingly so - on the contrary, the stable-like aroma was rather complementary to fresh sod and leafy character. ...

Read More

Te Aro Estate 'Minnie & Elsa' Pinot Grigio 2012

Te Aro Estate 'Minnie & Elsa' Pinot Grigio 2012

  08:17    Stu.

---

My first 2012 wine written up on the site.  Te Aro - or 'Happy Home' - is located at the Southern end of the Barossa, in Williamstown.  Starting out as growers in 1919, 3-4 generations later- 2001 - sees them take on a new guise as producer. Crystalline...

Read More

Taylor's Winter Red Releases

Taylor's Winter Red Releases

  07:22    Stu.

---

Reviews of the Taylor's Winter Reds releases across the Estate range and the cross-regional Jaraman range. Taylor's Estate Pinot Noir 2011: Screwcap, $18.95, 14% Fruit sourced from South Australia and Western Australia.  Hints of cherry with aromatics otherwise somewhat muted.  Palate fairly clean, hints of red fruit.  But it's all suggestion, not substance.  Touch of group/...

Read More

Donny Goodmac Shiraz Viognier 2008

Donny Goodmac Shiraz Viognier 2008

  08:31    Stu.

---

June 8th 2012 sees the Donny Goodmac crew return for a riotous lunch at the Hotel Orient's 'Swill' dining room.  The Vinsomniac has a pair of tickets to give away for it, check here for more. To the wine, 3% Viognier - provides lifted perfume in the glass - and...

Read More

Woods Crampton Mataro 2010

Woods Crampton Mataro 2010

  20:50    Stu.

---

I've always been impressed by the imports in the Fourth Wave portfolio.  This is the first domestic wine I have seen from them and it is quite simply a stunning debut. Candied orange peel and small berry juiciness bound up with some furtive black plum, dark cherry...

Read More

Esperanza Monastrell 2010

Esperanza Monastrell 2010

  20:15    Stu.

---

Esperanza is a Wirra Wirra Cellar Door exclusive brand.  Over the years the winery has produced wines under the 'Sparrow's Lodge' label, typically one-off releases, a bit of a playground for the winemaking team.  They generally tend to be well received, so...

Read More

Pertaringa Tannat 2009

Pertaringa Tannat 2009

  11:55    Stu.

---

From a single vineyard in McLaren Vale comes this Tannat from the impressively diverse portfolio of the Geoff Hardy owned Pertaringa.   Tannat hails originally from France's South-West corner, tucked up against the Pyrenees mountain range that separates...

Read More

Ridgemill Estate "The Spaniard" Tempranillo 2009

Ridgemill Estate "The Spaniard" Tempranillo 2009

  07:17    Stu.

---

Berry fresh by way of dark and sour cherry, a hint of plum and the addition of a herby/ bouquet garni element.  Light on entry, with more fruit elements coming through - lending juicy feel to proceedings.   The juiciness is a good counterpoint to a...

Read More

Karra Yerta Bullfrog Flat Eden Valley Shiraz 2008

Karra Yerta Bullfrog Flat Eden Valley Shiraz 2008

  21:01    Stu.

---

From quite possibly Australia's most idyllic sounding wine region comes this small production - only 32 dozen produced -  wine, and there's plenty to tempt even the most resolute individual here. Inviting aromatics, fresh and lifted: orange peel, berry fruit...

Read More

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2009

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2009

  20:10    Stu.

---

Opens to a touch of stewed plum over rich, dark, coffee-ish oak.  A hint of dark chocolate in the mix too, it's rich and concentrated.  It's a similar scenario in the mouth where it shows itself as smooth, thick and rich with a luscious mouthfeel. Tannin...

Read More

Hahndorf Hill "The Blueblood" Blaufränkisch 2010

Hahndorf Hill "The Blueblood" Blaufränkisch 2010

  13:12    Stu.

---

Synesthesia is an interesting study area.  I'm not suggesting I know anything about the subject, it's just that, with this wine a common theme for me was the smell 'blue'.  Can something smell of a colour? It really is a delightful perfume.  Wild flowers,...

Read More

Cape Barren Native Goose GSM 2010

Cape Barren Native Goose GSM 2010

  21:00    Stu.

---

Part of the joy of trying to assess a wine critically is seeing how it changes over time.  Whilst this is fundamentally at odds with the way the vast majority of wine is consumed, it does afford a glimpse as to how a wine may develop over time, a potential gauge...

Read More

Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2010

Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2010

  20:58    Stu.

---

With a nod to the heritage of the Wilson sisters' Grandfather, 'Selkirk' is the Scottish town that is the Wilson family ancestral home.    On initial opening, this wine was more about the American oak it had spent 18 months in - new and older oak. ...

Read More

Bimbadgen Estate Shiraz 2010

Bimbadgen Estate Shiraz 2010

  20:35    Stu.

---

Bimbadgen Estate is a rather striking winery, with a Campanile that wouldn't look out of place in Tuscany.  This Shiraz offers leathery and earthen notes with supporting fruit of cherry and plum.  You've got to appreciate a Shiraz weighing in at a modest 13.5%,...

Read More

Chapel Hill Mourvèdre 2009

Chapel Hill Mourvèdre 2009

  21:55    Stu.

---

This was the first varietal Mourvédre released by Chapel Hill.  Whereas the 2010 (click link for that note) was bright, radiant and had an amazing perfume, this 2009 to me is more typical: darker, concentrated, a deep seated aromatic profile - go looking and you'll...

Read More