September 2014 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Grant Burge Daly Road Shiraz Mourvédre 2012

23:30 Stu.

Initially meaty, gamey - with air a fair whack of fruit reveals its hand. Good weight to it, smooth, flowing well. Earth and spice, a touch of licorice, powdery tannin. Not a lot to say. Solid, does the job well. 89 Tasted on: Thursday 25th September, a Root day Source:...

2012 / Barossa Valley / Mataro et al / Shiraz

Hither & Yon Shiraz Cabernet 2013

20:53 Stu.

A cheeky one here. Initially showed me some red berry freshness, jostling and jockeying for position with a darker edge. Ultimately it's that edge that wins out, with time black and blue fruits forming the wine's principal aromatic profile. You'd have to like 'em big....

2013 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Sunday, 28 September 2014

Newton Forrest Cornerstone Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2006

11:44 Stu.

I'm so sorry I doubted you. There I was, prepared to give up on you, I popped you back in the fridge and forty-eight hours later, thankfully, we made up. Or, rather, I made amends. I have previously written of the special place this wine holds in my heart, and on the...

2006 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Hawkes Bay / Malbec / Merlot / New Zealand

Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2012

09:10 Stu.

One of the more sample offers I've received, based on the adoption of a plant based, zero carbon foot print enclosure. Suffice to say I was sufficiently interested in the wine to take a look. An exclusive import of Melbourne's Enoteca Sileno, sample supplied. Heralds...

Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2014

08:38 Stu.

Paired this up with the fishcakes from the River Cottage Baby and Toddler Cookbook, there a small insight into the trials and tribs of feeding an increasingly fussy and stubborn four year old. Citrus, passionfruit and a suggestion of dried grass. Possesses an airiness,...

2014 / Geographe / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Friday, 26 September 2014

Yelland & Papps Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

21:19 Stu.

Lovely packaging on the Y&P 'chalkboard' series. Cabernet is not the Barossa's strength, here the Y&P team have produced a wine from their 1992 estate plantings that is neither going to offend nor set the world on fire. Good varietal notes, black fruit cascading...

2013 / Barossa Valley / Cabernet Sauvignon

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

K1 by Geoff Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

12:59 Stu.

I must confess that my head has been turned in favour Hills Cabernet of late, a run of some good vintages and having seen some progression of the variety - admittedly notedly from K1. I opted to open the 2010 and 2012 side-by-side, sighted - that is not served 'blind'. In...

2012 / Adelaide Hills / Cabernet Sauvignon

K1 by Geoff Hardy Cabernet Sauvigon 2010

12:52 Stu.

I must confess that my head has been turned in favour Hills Cabernet of late, a run of some good vintages and having seen some progression of the variety - admittedly notedly from K1. I opted to open the 2010 and 2012 (here) side-by-side, sighted - that is not served 'blind'. Attractive...

2010 / Adelaide Hills / Cabernet Sauvignon

Sunday, 21 September 2014

Bakkheia Triparte SGM 2013

08:26 Stu.

A blend of Shiraz, Grenache and a splash of Mataro (50/40/10% respectively). Lovely rendition of the blend. Initially quite closed - give it some air - thereafter you'll be treated to lavender flroals, garrigue, sitting in front of some prime red fruit. Seeing only...

2013 / Geographe / grenache / Mataro et al / Shiraz

Saturday, 20 September 2014

Guimaro Mencia 2012

08:19 Stu.

It was a a beautiful piece on the wines of Ribeira Sacra in the first edition of alquimie that first brought the wines of Pedro Perez and Guimaro to my attention; it was a wonderful wine store in Brisbane - Craft - that allowed me the opportunity to find it on the shelf...

2012 / Mencia / Ribeira Sacra / Spain

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Willunga 100 'The Hundred' Grenache 2013

19:13 Stu.

Dares to deceive - initially throws up a savoury intro, albeit with sweet accents. Soon making way for the floral (had me thinking pansies/peonies, a little rose) high notes, in many respects the calling card of Blewitt Springs, the sub-region from where the fruit is...

2013 / Blewitt Springs / grenache / McLaren Vale / Single Vineyard

Willunga 100 Grenache 2013

18:53 Stu.

Sent by Grenache specialists Willunga 100 as a lead in to International Grenache Day 2014. The Vale does Grenache so well and they're getting pretty excited by IGD, with MC Halliday himself in attendance at an event at Serafino wines. Ripper of an entry level example...

2013 / grenache / McLaren Vale

Sunday, 14 September 2014

Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013

13:46 Stu.

We've a winner here folks, a wine that will appeal both to those looking for a wine at a particular price point and to those seeking a quality drinking proposition that drinks well now, and will offer a mid-term cellaring option. Shop well and you can find this under...

2913 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Geographe / Merlot

Friday, 12 September 2014

Torzi Matthews Schist Rock Shiraz 2013

10:50 Stu.

Another schist hot release from Dom Torzi and Tracy Matthews, albeit with a slightly different vibe to the 2012 - who said Australian wine was homogenous? Smells like malty chocolate, touches of dough and vanilla oak - fruit wins out with time, being black fruit dominant. Slick...

2013 / Eden Valley / Shiraz

Thursday, 11 September 2014

Yelland & Papps Sete di Vino 2013

21:11 Stu.

In my mind a significant improvement over the 2012 (caveat emptor: that could be me, vintage, earlier picking, appropriate food pairing, all of the above). To the wine in question: initially savoury, woody, suggestions of caramel balsamic. I could continue to reel...

2013 / Barbera / Barossa Valley / Dolcetto / Lagrein

O'Leary Walker Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2014

08:46 Stu.

Due for release shortly, '13 is still listed as current vintage via the winery website. Fresh herb gently wafts of the glass, tropical hints too. Whilst it states its variety out, and origins, it does so calmly. Deft handling and viticulture has tamed the Sauvignon Blanc. The...

2014 / Adelaide Hills / Sauvignon Blanc

Sunday, 7 September 2014

Down to Earth Wrattonbully Sauvignon Blanc 2014

13:31 Stu.

The younger sibling to the Terre à Terre Sauvignon Blanc reviewed earlier this year. This is the third Down to Earth release, it's fair to say that it remains a work in progress. No pejorative statement, merely a reflection on the tinkering and finessing that is taking...

2014 / 208 / Sauvignon Blanc / Wrattonbully

d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings GSM 2010

09:15 Stu.

d'Arenberg's Icon releases (Ironstone Pressings, Dead Arm, Coppermine Road) have all received a brand facelift with the 2010 releases. The trademark red sash is still front and centre, the label cleaner, a contrast to the inky-black contents within. The torn edge provides...

2010 / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Willunga 100 'The Tithing' Grenache 2010

08:36 Stu.

Made only in exceptional vintages, the 'Tithing' in Saxon represented a sub-unit of the '100'. Whereas the '100' represented 100 households, the 'Tithing' was the next level down, representing around 10 households (I never knew they were into decimilisation so early...) Grenache...

2010 / grenache / McLaren Vale

Saturday, 6 September 2014

Patina Riesling 2013

08:25 Stu.

Shy, retiring, took a while to unfurl. Tight - and opening slowly it reveals citrus by way of a little mandarin, orange blossom, lime and a suggestive guava note. The palate shows a little textural spread - acid nicely balanced against the retention of a little residual...

2013 / Orange / riesling

Angullong Fossill Hill Shiraz Viognier 2012

08:13 Stu.

Cassis, blueberry, touch of background spice and dustiness - the Viognier integration here is well handled, seen and not heard. Flat profile, little of substance, acid shows a touch peaky - representative of the cool vintage from which it came. Little by way of length...

2012 / Orange / Shiraz / Viognier

Friday, 5 September 2014

Running With Bulls Barossa Tempranillo 2013

08:00 Stu.

One of the most consistent and authentic Tempranillo in Australia, good value too. Listed here with RRP, but available sub-$20 via the website itself. Florals, blue fruits carrying above that line with a savoury of undercarry of dried twigs. There's a little mocha/ café...

2013 / Barossa Valley / Tempranillo

Thursday, 4 September 2014

Longhop Rosé 2014

21:03 Stu.

Love the colour of this, kind of reminds me of Irn Bru (some of you might know of that sugar laden Glaswegian staple?). You'll be pleased to hear that it tastes nothing like it. Red berry fruit freshness from the off, more strawberry backed up with a little raspberry -...

2014 / grenache / Mount Lofty / Rosé

Wednesday, 3 September 2014

Mud House Pinot Gris 2013

08:00 Stu.

Made by the highly regarded Ben Glover, the winery was recently purchased by Accolade Wines. Expressely aromatic, lovely nuances of pear, stonefruit, citrus and even a suggestive note of nougat. That doesn't quite carry through to the palate where there's a little tinned...

2013 / Marlborough / New Zealand / Pinot Gris

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

Yelland & Papps Devote Greenock Shiraz 2012

21:13 Stu.

I think of 2012 as a Shiraz year and I'm more inclined to think that in 2013 Grenache has the edge. Just my view of course, mind. Essence of Greenock: chocolate, blueberry, cherry, a little mocha/coffee too. Full and smooth, with a sense of ease, a fluidity. So drinkable...

2012 / Barossa Valley / Greenock / Shiraz

Longhop Pinot Gris 2014

08:00 Stu.

Long Hop is a partnership between old school buddies Dom Torzi (of torzi-Matthews) and Tim Freeland. Fruit is sourced from the Mount Lofty Ranges. Fresh and fragrant, requisite pear with a little apple and spice cascading out of the glass. Good balance, acid against...

2014 / Mount Lofty / Pinot Gris

Monday, 1 September 2014

Lowe Wines Nullo Mountain Pinot Gris 2013

08:00 Stu.

Can't say that I've seen too many Gris logging in just shy of 15%. Honey and pear aromatics, pleasant enough. The alcohol is noticeable, showing itself through a spike of heat that persists in hanging around. Somewhat akin to ground ginger. Not something I'd recommend,...

2013 / Mudgee / Pinot Gris

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