November 2014 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

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

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Wirra Wirra Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

21:07 Stu.

Attractive presentation and what's within matches up. Cassis, lighter cherry notes here, savoury elements waft too and with time you may see a little sage reveal its hand. Damson, mulberry, mint and herb; excellent structure and lovely balance of elements...

2012 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Monday, 3 November 2014

Dodgy Bros Shiraz 2013

21:19 Stu.

From the warmest, southernmost part of McLaren Vale - the Sellicks Foot Hills. A black, nigh-impenetrable wine: choc and fudge, purple and black fruit, displays a little oak, dried grass and earth in its composite form. Licoricey, cut square and big: a football...

2013 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Saturday, 1 November 2014

Inkwell Perfect Day Shiraz 2012

13:44 Stu.

I'm glad I spent it with you. In memory of Lou Reed. Savoury: plum skins, blueberry and dusky violets. It's intense, there's a drive and verve to the wine, yet also - at odds to that - effortless. The palate speaks of ultra-fine tannin, graphite; a never ending...

2012 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Angullong Fossil Hill Vermentino 2014

07:31 Stu.

Angullong grafted over a small patch of their vineyard to Vermentino in 2011, with a larger graft occurring in 2012. Shows much promise. Delightfully fresh, offering up citrus, pear, a tropical edge of some honeydew melon and a briny/ saline chalkiness to it. Reminiscent of...

2014 / Central Ranges / Vermentino

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