October 2013 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Taylor's St Andrews Riesling 2013

20:31 Stu.

Tasted single blind (the identity is known but is hidden when being poured) in a bracket of Rieslings: 3 2013 releases from Taylor's and a 10 year that was included for extra colour - literally. The most 'mute' of the three - took a while to open, slowly, hints of...

2013 / Clare Valley / riesling / Single Vineyard

Taylor's Jaraman Riesling 2013

12:25 Stu.

Tasted single blind (the identity is known but is hidden when being poured) in a bracket of Rieslings: 3 2013 releases from Taylor's and a 10 year that was included for extra colour - literally. Somewhat closed initially (comparatively to Wine #1), hints of celeriac/fennel,...

2013 / Clare Valley / Eden Valley / riesling

Taylor's Estate Riesling 2013

08:54 Stu.

Tasted single blind (the identity is known but is hidden when being poured) in a bracket of Rieslings: 3 2013 releases from Taylor's and a 10 year that was included for extra colour - literally. Aromatically pronounced - almost forward. Lemon, kumquat ...

2013 / Clare Valley / riesling

Monday, 28 October 2013

Yelland and Papps Delight Shiraz 2011

10:51 Stu.

Opens with mocha, a little oak - sees 9% new and 63% old French, 14% new and 14% old American - and good fruit ripeness, a character missing in many reds from 2011. Full in the mouth, tannin is fine with some good spicy detail - a hint of clove present - if overall it...

2011 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Friday, 25 October 2013

Vinteloper: a New Identity and New Releases

09:19 Stu.

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a gathering in Brisbane's New Farm Park for the launch of two new wines, and the reveal of a new visual identity, from winemaker David Bowley of Vinteloper Wines. Opting to go the way of the trend of creating a version...

2013 / Clare Valley / Fleurieu / Pinot Gris / riesling

Thursday, 24 October 2013

Tahbilk Viognier 2013

13:25 Stu.

Plantings back to 1990, first vintage in 1996 marks this 2013 example as the 18th consecutive vintage of Viognier for Tahbilk. Initially closed, then honeysuckle, citrus blossom, a little lemon sherbet and peach. The cool Nagambie Lakes region helps avoid the 'shrill...

2013 / Nagambie Lakes / Viognier

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Yalumba Virgilius 2010

08:11 Stu.

The finest presentation of Viognier in Australia. A barrel selection, the wine possesses power and concentration, yet also shows a deft aromatic touch. Apricot, ground ginger, background citrus following up as part of its aromatic profile. Power packed palate;...

2010 / Eden Valley / Viognier

Monday, 21 October 2013

Yalumba Organic Viognier 2012

14:14 Stu.

Spring is such a magical season, blossom appearing, a visible sign of the awakening life within the trees. Here we have a wine from Australia's leading producer of the variety, a wine that shows honeysuckle with a little citrus and apricot blossom. It's not all...

2012 / South Australia / Viognier

Friday, 18 October 2013

Rocland Estate Chocolate Box Shiraz 2012

12:43 Stu.

Second of the Rocland 'Chocolate Box' wines tasted, you can find the GSM note here. The wines are packaged with a look reminiscent of advertising from the late 50s and early 60s. Suggestive of chocolate packaging and featuring the words chocolate prominently. They are wines...

2012 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Rocland Estate Chocolate Box GSM 2012

09:04 Stu.

Possesses the lovely, plush, comforting nose of the lead player Grenache. Damp earth, cherry with hints of choc-raspberry. Background savoury components add extra weight, a touch of herb and spice completes the picture. Thick, chewy and spicy, Soft and rounded - plush....

2012 / Barossa Valley / grenache / Mataro et al / Shiraz

Sunday, 13 October 2013

La Curio Reserve Bush Vine Grenache 2010

09:22 Stu.

2009 Bottle Image Initially clearly red fruited, with a slightly meaty edge; evolution, fairly rapidly, with a little rhubarb and the meatiness taking on a more beefy tone. Still accented with with red fruit, sweet perfume and fennel edge. The palate is light-on initially,...

2010 / grenache / McLaren Vale

Saturday, 12 October 2013

Two Hands Lily's Garden McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007

15:05 Stu.

The Two Hands Garden Series, a series of regional wines each named after the child of one of the Two Hands - here Michael Twelftree's daughter Lily is honoured in the form of McLaren Vale Shiraz. For me, this represents a dip into the cellar, for something that I...

2007 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Tahbilk Shiraz 2010

12:27 Stu.

Yes! All soft black fruits, hints of oak, a touch of eucalypt, but approachable - so approachable. Damson, hints of blackcurrant and all up inviting brambly fruit. Medium bodied, juicy, soft and fleshy - a little comfort factor, like sinking into a favourite cushion,...

2010 / Nagambie Lakes / Shiraz

Alkoomi Frankland River Chardonnay 2011

12:17 Stu.

Having reviewed a variety of Alkoomi wines across different wines, varieties and vintages, I've got to say they consistently hit the mark at their respective price points. This Chardonnay is no exception. Opens with the flinty, smokey character redolent of barrel fermentation;...

2011 / Chardonnay / Frankland River / Great Southern

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Nanny Goat Syrah 2012

12:47 Stu.

Syrah from Central Otago is an interesting proposition. Generally a region considered cool, needs judicious site selection to work. Black fruited, a little fruits of the forest; violets with a beefy meaty hint. Notes of spicy oak, vanilla. White pepper, fairly...

2012 / Central Otago / New Zealand / Syrah

Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

12:31 Stu.

Built for the long haul and the cellar - approachable now, but I do believe that Cabernet needs a good sleep before showing at its best. Opens with flashes of oak, eucalypt and a dense core of black fruit: cassis, damson and their ilk. Cedary, hints of mocha and coffee...

2008 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Nagambie Lakes

Monday, 7 October 2013

Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Riesling 2013

12:36 Stu.

Complex aromatics here, a combination of fresh baked apple pie with spicy notes; a little cidery touch, Bickford's lime cordial and bath salts. The palate is a little different too, not your razor Rizza that many of you may be familiar with, a little lees ageing has created...

2013 / Eden Valley / riesling

Lark Hill 'Eliza' Off-Dry Riesling 2013

12:24 Stu.

Named after the 3rd generation of the Carpenter family, winemaker Chris' daughter. I wouldn't normally start a tasting note quoting numbers relating to acids and residual sugar, but such may be of interest in understanding a wine such as this. Possessing excellent...

2013 / Canberra District / riesling

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Turkey Flat Mourvédre 2010

21:46 Stu.

Behold! Good gear here - Mataro Mourvédre in a somewhat lighter guise, without sacrificing any of the signature elements of the variety. Opens with a sandy, earthen character; hints of rain on dry earth, a nutty touch, a little dried grass before dark plum and cherry...

#ProjectMataro / 2010 / Barossa Valley / Mataro et al

Bakkheia United and Undaunted Mourvédre Shiraz 2010

21:27 Stu.

So named to commemorate 60 years of Navy divers - respect. Dominant cherry and glossy plumminess; has a sheen, a polish to the fruit on display with little herbal tinges lurking in the background. Full bodied, an immediate hit of fruit sweetness on entry, segueing to spice: Szechuan meets pepper with hints of anise. Lends a 'coolness' to the palate, all up good structure and balance. Licorice...

2010 / Geographe / Mataro et al / Shiraz

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