2014 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Tuesday, 30 December 2014

d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2010

11:57 Stu.

An excellent cellar-worthy prospect here. Gains in stature with time and air; unfurling, stretching and bulking up. If you approach now, please do so with a good decant. Plum and black fruit, a dusting of dark cocoa powder with sweet oak perfume. Shows good weight on...

2010 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Monday, 29 December 2014

Thoughts on Fourteen

12:22 Stu.

I'm not normally one for taking on end of year reviews. But 2014 was a funny fucker. A year of highs, lows, of love and loss. Mornington Glory In my little wine world, 2014 started with a trip to the Mornington Peninsula. A trip with a good bunch of wine lovers, each...

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyard Chardonnay 2013

10:12 Stu.

Delicate citrus offers itself up, a little grilled nectarine smokiness, toasted almond and nougat. A sucker punch of tangy, nippy grapefruit acidity has your palate reeling after a delicate intro. A focussed line of acid riven through the wine. A little phenolic...

2013 / Chardonnay / Margaret River

Sunday, 28 December 2014

Willow Bridge Estate 'G1-10' Chardonnay 2013

06:48 Stu.

I'm not entirely sure what a G1-10 is. An internet search for the same reveals anything ranging from an environmental protection law to musical instruments through to a French autoroute. In this guise, we have fine Chardonnay from Western Australia's Geographe wine...

2013 / Chardonnay / Ferguson Valley / Geographe / Western Australia

Saturday, 27 December 2014

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2012

07:52 Stu.

Bold wine on show here, touches of liqueur, with sappy notes suggestive of the inclusion of some stems. This is fine Pinot. Carries weight, depth and breadth - big and balanced with hints of sweet oak. Still needs a little time to settle into itself, a bit like the teenager...

2012 / Fleurieu Peninsula / pinot noir

Shaw & Smith Pinot Noir 2013

07:42 Stu.

Subtle red fruit, it's a low 12.5% alcohol, by way of cherry and macerated strawberry. Residual spice and creamy vanilla from the oak on display. Medium bodied, sour cherries - firm, yet with a balancing acidic freshness. Tannin is faint, in balance with the wine overall....

2013 / Adelaide Hills / pinot noir

Friday, 26 December 2014

Hither & Yon Nero d'Avola 2014

08:08 Stu.

Nero lives up to its name here, with an inky darkness emanating from the glass. Seems 2014 was a strong year too (admittedly from a low sample set). Red and black fruits and something - I wrote at the time - like hanging your head over a pan of sizzling pork...

2014 / McLaren Vale / Nero d'Avola

Thursday, 25 December 2014

O'Leary Walker Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

14:07 Stu.

Clare Cabernet when on song, can simply be beautiful. It may not carry the gravitas of some more traditional regions, or possess the same structure, but for around $20 here we have a compelling drinking proposition. Such an attractive introduction: menthol,...

2012 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Clare Valley

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Hither & Yon Muscat Blanc 2014

10:55 Stu.

Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains - to give it its full name - is somewhat of a vineyard parental legend. Robinson et al, in their magnum opus "Wine Grapes", cite Muscat of Alexandria and Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains as "the progenitors of at least fourteen grape varieties...

2014 / McLaren Vale / Muscat Blanc

Monday, 22 December 2014

Pertaringa Two Gentlemen GSM 2013

11:40 Stu.

The two gents in question are Pertaringa founders Geoff Hardy and Ian Leask. Whilst Geoff is now the sole proprietor of the Pertaringa, the acknowledgement of their partnership via this wine remains as a lasting tribute. Red fruits, sweet accents, woody spice. A little...

2013 / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Sunday, 21 December 2014

Andrew Seppelt Wines Sérine 2012

14:15 Stu.

Andrew Seppelt, formerly winemaker - and partner - at Murray Street Vineyards, has long had his own label producing wines made from Barossan stalwarts such as the Shiraz and Riesling (Eden Valley). Sometimes a wine poses too good a story to simply limit it to a brief tasting...

2012 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Saturday, 20 December 2014

Kaesler Palomino 2013

10:01 Stu.

Palomino, the principal grape variety used in Sherry production. Here, off of 50+ year old vines from the Barossa, the Palomino has been crafted into a table wine. Fresh, offering citrus, lemon sherbet, touch of herb and sea spray. Acidity is sharp - unusual for a variety...

2013 / Barossa Valley / Palomino

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Topper's Mountain Bricolage Blanc 2013

13:29 Stu.

Curious blend, a partner to the Red Earth Child - interestingly bricolage means DIY, or "construction made of whatever materials are at hand; something created from a variety of available things". Appropriately here we have a mix of Chardonnay (60%), Gewürztraminer (20%),...

2013 / Chardonnay / Gewürztraminer / New England / Petit Manseng / Sauvignon Blanc

Monday, 15 December 2014

Mitchell Harris Sabre 2011

21:33 Stu.

I had the pleasure of tasting this sparkler (from that vintage) whilst the good lady was putting up the Christmas tree, an occasion that heralds - for our family, as no doubt it does many - the start of the festive season. A 60/40 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir...

2011 / Chardonnay / macedon / pinot noir / Pyrenees

Sunday, 14 December 2014

Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

12:34 Stu.

The house style on show here: intoxicating pull of black fruits - the aromas have me, pulling me in like the smell of a new lover. Earthy, ferrous, mix of black fruit and oak with a touch of kalamata olive. The finish see dusty, powdery - nigh chalky - tannin. One last...

2013 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Chapel Hill Parsons Nose Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

12:30 Stu.

An oh-so-attractive black fruit leaps from the glass here, pure damson and mulberry - makes me want to place my head in a vatful and 'motorboat' with it. My own proclivities aside, the palate here is somewhat at odds against that playful, inviting...

2013 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Saturday, 13 December 2014

Leaping Lizard Cabernet Merlot 2012

14:00 Stu.

Much preferred this over the Shiraz out of the same portfolio. Plum, oak/mocha, cassis and blackcurrant - in short a very attractive co-variety introduction here. Flow-on to the palate, firm and drying tannin - a wine that offers balance, integrity and decent length....

2012 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Western Australia

Leaping Lizard Shiraz 2012

13:57 Stu.

Attractive mix of fruit, a waft of vanilla, veering to a little mocha. Smooth entry, touch of blackcurrant pastille that moves to an unattractive back bite. Reasonable length, composition not quite pulling together for me. 84 Tasted on: Thursday 13th November, a Leaf...

2012 / Shiraz / Western Australia

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Angullong Fossil Hill Shiraz Viognier 2013

21:16 Stu.

Possesses a vibrancy, a pretty good lure when in glass. The attraction doesn't end there. A harmonious mix of fruit supported by a frame of oak. Oak, plums, nutty hints on the palate; a powdery coating of tannin. Length adds further allure, tannin holding a good...

2013 / Orange / Shiraz / Viognier

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Chateau Peybonhomme Les Tours Cotes de Blay 2012

14:13 Stu.

I was first served this wine by a well known booze pimp in Brisbane, sufficiently interested by it that I sourced a bottle for further analysis. Quite rare in Bordeaux, the grapes for this wine are grown following biodynamic practices. I'd best describe it's...

2012 / Biodynamic / Bordeaux / Cotes de Blay / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Meerea Park The Aunts Shiraz 2011

10:47 Stu.

Found this one during a Cabinet reshuffle (read: samples fridge). Apologies for having overlooked you. Interesting one this, good medium bodied wine, black and red fruits show initially before blocky oak prevents further expression. Savoury, leathery, gamey - a touch...

2011 / Hunter Valley / Shiraz

S.C.Pannell by SCP Nebbiolo 2012

10:09 Stu.

Excellent value at $25 direct from the producer or, for a few gold coins more, pick it up at an excellent independent retailer. Lots going on here with a beautiful, fragrant introduction. One of cherry, amaro citrus, almond biscotti and a touch of rolling baccy. Medium...

2012 / Adelaide Hills / nebbiolo

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Symphony Hill Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2013

17:36 Stu.

It's quite possible that Symphony Hill can lay claim to the title of "Queensland's most successful exhibitor at wine shows", if anyone's counting and if such a title indeed existed. However, their success has largely been off of the back of fruit drawn from outside of...

2013 / New England / Sauvignon Blanc

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py 2011

13:35 Stu.

The importer of this wine is thankful that the producer doesn't live in Burgundy. So am I. I'd been keen to try this for a while, promptly securing a bottle when I finally found it at a retail store in Brisbane. Contrary to what other addicts may do, the thrill of securing...

2011 / Beaujolais / Côte du Py / France / Morgon

Thursday, 13 November 2014

Lark Hill Shiraz Viognier 2013

09:29 Stu.

Opens with a leading aromatic lift, of bright red fruits; attractive, approachable. Medium bodied, peppery with exquisite silken tannins and a little Viognier slipperyness. Savoury punctuation at the wine's conclusion, a point that just adds further to...

2013 / Canberra District / Shiraz / Viognier

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Lowe Mudgee Blue Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2012

13:44 Stu.

Cabernet leads here, front and centre - its cedary charms on offer. A sweeter edge pulls through on entry, then it's juicy - a little tart blue fruit with a nip of acid. Lacks a bit of stuffing in the middle third, but offers reasonable length. It's a pleasure now and...

Longhop Shiraz 2013

13:13 Stu.

From the talented hands of Dom Torzi, of Torzi-Matthews. Toasty, malty oak - uses a combination of American and French - on intro. At odds with itself, at turns it seems rich and lithe. There's black fruit, savoury aniseed twists - immediate savoury hits are delivered...

2013 / Mount Lofty / Shiraz

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Coriole Nero d'Avola 2014

15:10 Stu.

Third bottling and second commercial release of Coriole's Nero d'Avola - a variety that is quietly going about getting itself established in a range of regions across South Australia. Made in a drink now, very approachable style - a 'Joven' Nero if I can license that...

2014 / McLaren Vale / Nero d'Avola

Lark Hill Wines Mr V Biodynamic Viognier Marsanne Roussanne 2013

14:50 Stu.

White florals, peering around the corner a little mandarin and stonefruit and touch of a vanilla cream/custard. Spice and textural rich offer a different experience for the introduction to the palate; spiced-honeyed-mead meets master stock backed up with a little phenolic...

2013 / Canberra District / Marsanne / Roussanne / Viognier

Ar Fion Field Blend 2012

08:45 Stu.

Ar Fion (meaning "our wine" in Gaelic) is the brand of Dave Mackintosh, ex of Innocent Bystander/Giant Steps and also one part of 'Salo' along with current Ib/Giant Steps Chief wino Steve Flamsteed. Not a true field blend - in the meaning as I understand it - as each...

2012 / Chardonnay / Pinot Gris / Sauvignon Blanc

Monday, 10 November 2014

View Road Wines 'Picked By My Wife' Arneis 2014

15:17 Stu.

If any of you avid wine blog readers had been wondering where Josh Tuckfield had been between late January 2014 and late October, then this Arneis from View Road Wines might provide some insight. Under the 'View Road Wines' label, Josh is releasing wines with fruit drawn...

2014 / Adelaide Hills / Arneis

Tapanappa Picadilly Valley Chardonnay 2013

14:01 Stu.

Sublime expression of Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills. From a warmer year, but one largely free of heat spikes. Opens with a leesy, wheatgerm, cashew and oak introduction; it smells classy, expensive. Seeing no malo, the wine was fermented in barrel, 30%...

2013 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay

Dodgy Bros GSM Rosé 2014

11:27 Stu.

"I put a lot of thought into this wine so you don't have too. I'm trying to build texture in this wine with winemaking methods, use of full solids to for texture and mouthfeel without adding sugar. A Rosé for me is not necessarily meant to be complex, or have lots...

2014 / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Rosé / Shiraz

Wednesday, 5 November 2014

Leaping Lizard Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014

15:44 Stu.

Leaping Lizard is the entry level 'critter' brand of regarded Great Southern producer Ferngrove. Pear, citrus and musk. Fresh with some tropical fruit fleshiness. Pear makes a reappearance, more about the texture here. Despite having less to say than about the...

2014 / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon / Western Australia

Leaping Lizard Sauvignon Blanc 2014

15:40 Stu.

Leaping Lizard is the entry level 'critter' brand of regarded Great Southern producer Ferngrove. Clear tropicals, of passionfruit and kiwi fruit - actually shows some restraint for a variety that is known for its pungent, overt aromatics. Open and generous, showing a...

2014 / Sauvignon Blanc / Western Australia

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