April 2014 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Monday, 28 April 2014

S.C Pannell Adelaide Hills Syrah 2012

12:26 Stu.

Whilst having been familiar with the producer, the product has largely remained off of my radar until recently. A change of distribution in and around the Brisbane/ SEQ area has seen greater availability in the retail space. Sees 25% whole-bunch with partial carbonic,...

2012 / Adelaide Hills / Syrah

Monday, 21 April 2014

Out of Step Wine Co. Malakoff Estate Nebbiolo 2013

13:23 Stu.

When a producer goes to the effort of naming the source of fruit for a wine, I'm generally of the opinion that I should seek more information about it: "Just south of Landsborough, in the slopes of Victoria's Pyrenees, lies this beautiful Nebbiolo vineyard. Planted...

2013 / nebbiolo / Pyrenees

Massolino Langhe DOC Nebbiolo 2011

13:22 Stu.

To my mind, in my never-ending questing to learn about wine, Langhe can be a little confusing. It refers to the hills (langa) north and south of Alba, and here we are interested in the Langhe Nebbiolo DOC. Under the DOC it is possible to use up to 15% non-Nebbiolo...

2011 / Langhe / nebbiolo

Kirrihill Clare Valley Nebbiolo 2012

13:19 Stu.

Lovely pronounced aromas cherry blossom and touches of rose. Quite captivating aromatics. Strikes me that much of what is good about the wine is there on the nose. A little of that cherry character flows through onto the palate, thereafter it's all about ferrous, drying...

2012 / Clare Valley / nebbiolo

Sunday, 20 April 2014

Yelland & Papps Second Take Shiraz 2013

11:56 Stu.

Initially red fruits abound: raspberry, satsuma plum, a little citrus...I could go on. Secondarily, a touch meaty with a little liquorice and cassis. It grows in stature with a little time, become a bolder wine than it was. Sandy, powdery tannin - it felt like...

2013 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Thursday, 10 April 2014

Dodgy Bros Grenache Shiraz Mourvédre 2012

15:31 Stu.

"I've got an aching in my bones, I've been exposed to what I want to see" ~ Dodgy, Good Enough Reliving my teen years there. A big and ripe wine reflective of its provenance, of the early ripening Sellick Hills of McLaren Vale. Fruit drawn from a range of...

2012 / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Duck Duck Goose Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

14:43 Stu.

Tasted blind in a bracket of 7 Cabernet Sauvignon/ dominant blends. Dark, prune and raisin. Thick, lush and plush; touch of fruit and nut chocolate about it. Good-ish, gentler than initially thought. 'They' would love it, a crowd-pleaser. 87 Tasted on: Tuesday 1st April, a Leaf to Fruit day Source: Sample Price: $18 Alcohol: 14.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.roclandestate.com/ Follow...

2012 / Barossa / Cabernet Sauvignon

Chapel Hill Parson's Nose Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

14:37 Stu.

Tasted blind in a bracket of 7 Cabernet Sauvignon/ dominant blends. Attractive perfume: pomegranate, cassis, mulberry and red cough candy. Soft, plush and rounded on entry; fine tannin, touches of chocolate. More-ish, soft and of moderate-good length. 89 Tasted on: Tuesday...

2012 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Mawson's 'Far Eastern Party' Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

14:32 Stu.

Tasted blind in a bracket of 7 Cabernet Sauvignon/ dominant blends. Plum, damson, play-doh touches; smooth, plump and rounded. Plenty of soft black fruit coursing through the palate, backed-up with some savoury touches of tobacco and a little clove derived spice. 87 Tasted...

2012 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Limestone Coast

Cooks Lot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

14:26 Stu.

Tasted blind in a bracket of 7 Cabernet Sauvignon/ dominant blends. Sweeter aromatics on display here, mint and cassis with some red fruit character rounding out the profile. Palate sees a wine that's juicier, sweeter, touch riper; mint present too - firm tannins....

2013 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Orange

Taylor's Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

14:22 Stu.

Tasted blind in a bracket of 7 Cabernet Sauvignon/ dominant blends. Mulberry, choc/mocha, touch leafy with a hint of eucalypt. Delightful aromatic intro. Palate a little flat, all up front aroma, little by way of body. Tannin firm. 86 Tasted on: Tuesday 1st...

2012 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Clare Valley

Xabregas Mount Barker Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

14:14 Stu.

Tasted blind in a bracket of 7 Cabernet Sauvignon/ dominant blends. Deep, rich, cabernet. Cedar, chocolate, red berries and a little mint. Elegant palate profile, acid and fruit in good balance; structured - powdery/ graphite tannin. Length, elegance, suggestions...

2011 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Great Southern / Mount Barker

Alkoomi White Label Cabernet Merlot 2011

14:06 Stu.

Tasted blind in a bracket of 7 Cabernet Sauvignon/ dominant blends. Positioned nicely at the entry to Alkoomi's portfolio, opens with plum, fig and tapenade. Fresh with plenty of fruit coming forward. Medium bodied, fresh, touch fleshy, fine-grained tannin and little...

2011 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Great Southern / Merlot

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Topper's Mountain Gewürztraminer 2013

15:56 Stu.

This was an interesting exercise, two Gewürztraminer, fruit for both from New England, NSW, same winemaker (Mike Hayes), made at the same winery, for two different labels. Musky, slightly musty, with the prettier elements of lychee, rose petals and turkish delight....

2013 / Gewürztraminer / New England

Symphony Hill Gewürztraminer 2013

15:56 Stu.

This was an interesting exercise, two Gewürztraminer, fruit for both from New England, NSW, same winemaker (Mike Hayes), made at the same winery, for two different labels. Gewürztraminer as a variety is often lazily lumped as a wine match for 'spicy' or 'Asian' food....

2013 / Gewürztraminer / New England

Saturday, 5 April 2014

Pyramids Road Mourvédre 2012

07:08 Stu.

2007 Image A mere fifty dozen produced, i first tasted this out of barrel (one of the two made, one American and one French, both two year old) not long after it had started its journey to becoming a wine. I could see the quality wine it was to become then. Dark,...

2012 / Granite Belt / Mataro et al

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Ferngrove Cossack Riesling 2013

08:26 Stu.

Opens with creamy panacotta, frangipani before seeing a movement toward more tropical notes of grapefruit, a little melon and lime. Palate shows a similar theme: zest, florals and chalky dryness. Not your cut and thrust Riesling, it feels cool and composed. Glorious length...

2013 / Great Southern / riesling

2013 Parish Vineyard Coal River Riesling

08:16 Stu.

The former Frogmore Creek vineyard, renamed the Jansz Parish Vineyard following acquisition by the Hill-Smith family. Tasmania, the new frontier in retaining a presence in cool climate viticulture. Lime, bath salts, suggestions of a chalky coolness. Hints of apple blossom...

2013 / Coal River / riesling / Tasmania

Cooks Lot Riesling 2013

08:08 Stu.

Citrus, green apple, honeyed tropicals and white florals. Hints of citrus peel, suggestions of lemon and honey. Feels fleshy and open, lacks the tightness you see in good Riesling - and it's a crowded marketplace for Riesling under $20. Lacks a little drive on...

2013 / Orange / riesling

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Topper's Mountain Red Earth Child 2011

07:11 Stu.

Oh my, a striking wine. Red Earth Child it is, with a backdrop that shows arresting aromas of rose petals, with bramble and black fruit, spicy hints waiting in the background to enchant further. Shows a deftness, light-footed touch on the palate, fine-powdery tannin...

2011 / nebbiolo / New England / Shiraz / Tannat / Tempranillo

Lark Hill Viognier 2013

06:11 Stu.

Opened this up in a small bracket of three Viognier, it was the wine that looked initially least favourable, yet over time it opened up significantly. Apricot lends an allure, a prettiness - background white florals, aromatics hold up over time - good start. Touch of...

2013 / Biodynamic / Canberra District / Viognier

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