January 2015 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Saturday, 31 January 2015

Raidis Estate - New Releases - Tasting Notes

15:41 Stu.

Steve Raidis, principal/winemakerof Coonawarra's Raidis Estate was in town recently on some trade visits. I took the opportunity to catch up with Steve, along with a few like minded souls to take a look at some new and current recent release wines over a spot of dinner* Steve,...

2013 / 204 / Coonawarra / Pinot Gris / riesling / Sauvignon Blanc / Shiraz

Friday, 30 January 2015

O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2014

18:35 Stu.

Expressive little number here: bath salts, kaffir lime, citrus blossom. Has the focus and precision, the lazer-beam acidity cutting a clinical line through the palate. Yet, for all that, it has an easy-going moreishness to it. Citrus derived length, proportions generous....

2014 / Clare Valley / riesling

Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2011

08:38 Stu.

Has that stonefruit, citrus, seasoned oak and a sprinkle of vanilla bean thing going on. One of the most alluring combinations known, and the hallmarks of good quality Chardonnay. Cut of grapefruit acidity, well integrated seasoned oak on the palate. It was a wine I...

2011 / Chardonnay / Margaret River

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Willow Bridge Estate Solana Tempranillo 2013

06:27 Stu.

Tempranillo for me, when executed well, is a thing of beauty. I have laid bare my issues against Australian Tempranillo in the past, not so here with this offering from Willow Bridge Estate in Western Australia's Geographe region. Coffee bean, chocolate and blueberry...

2013 / Geographe / Tempranillo

View Road Wines 'Picked by My Wife' Tempranillo 2013

06:25 Stu.

The specs: wild ferment, plunged twice a day for five and a half weeks, twelve months in old French oak. From Yakka Paddock vineyard in Kuitpo (southern end of the Adelaide Hills), planted in 2001. Good aromatics here, blue fruits in the main initially. Doesn't quite flow through on the palate. Big wine - impact statement - manages to avoid the heat, but cannot shake the stewed fruit character. No...

2013 / Adelaide Hills / Tempranillo

Monday, 26 January 2015

Wirra Wirra Lost Watch Adelaide Hills Riesling 2014

08:34 Stu.

Riesling from the Adelaide Hills tends to be a little overlooked. As a variety it is overshadowed by those two classic Riesling producing regions to the north: Clare and Eden Valleys; within its own region it doesn't get much of a guernsey compared to the Chardonnay...

2014 / Adelaide Hills / riesling

Sunday, 25 January 2015

d'Arenberg The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

14:23 Stu.

I'm not prone to call favourites - but if I were, amongst the d'Arenberg icons, then the Coppermine Road could possibly hold the position of first amongst equals. Plum, damson and notes of damp earth. Heady you might say. Chocolate and wafery oak only add to what is an...

2010 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Saturday, 24 January 2015

Knappstein Enterprise Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

08:20 Stu.

Winemaker Glenn Barry is achieving some great things at Knappstein, pushing the envelope a little with with varieties like Riesling, whilst at the same time over-delivering on classics like this Cabernet, a snip at $20. Closed initially - give it some time, air and slowly...

2012 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Clare Valley

Friday, 23 January 2015

Willow Bridge Estate Bookends Fumé Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2013

07:55 Stu.

"Old friends, old friends sat on their parkbench like bookends" ~ Simon & Garfunkel, Old Friends Creaminess imbued with a little smoke tells you much about how the wine was handled. And also tells you that the Fumé moniker is genuine and...

2013 / Geographe / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Sauvignon Blanc 2013

07:54 Stu.

On the grassier side here - with hints of blackcurrant, cream and spice - all adding up to an exciting introduction. Dilute blackcurrant cordial lead-in, delicate and fresh. A nimble, yet sure-footed, representation; clean and precise, it picks its way around the palate...

2013 / Margaret River / Sauvignon Blanc

Wirra Wirra Hiding Champion Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2014

05:20 Stu.

No mistaking the variety or the region here. Interplay of tropical fruit with a little nettle/grassy twang. Leads to lemongrass with lemon thyme. Fair mouthful of flavour - passionfruit with a chalky pucker, acidic freshness that certainly delivers. Good length, the...

2014 / Adelaide Hills / Sauvignon Blanc

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Chateau Rieussec Grand Cru Sauternes 1989

14:33 Stu.

Classified as a Grand Cru estate in the great 1855 Classification. Since 1984, Ch.Rieussec has been owned by the Domaines Baron de Rothschild, the owners of Chateau Lafite. This vintage was the first produced in the new winery funded as part of that acquisition. At 25,...

1989 / France / Muscadelle / Sauternes / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Thursday, 15 January 2015

Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2012

05:18 Stu.

For an 'icon' wine, it's going for place rather than presenting itself as an overt manifestation of the guiding hand of the winemaker. It's medium-just touching full-bodied. Blue fruit, choc-mint, latterly a bit of spearmint; blackcurrant, touches of herb and bramble. Structure...

2012 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Old Plains Mistura Touriga Amarelo Cão 2014

07:22 Stu.

As a child, family summer holidays were often taken in Portugal, a delightful little town called Sesmarias, some way outside of the package holiday hotspot of Albufeira. One of the restaurants we used to dine at was called Torre Velha (literally Old Tower) where...

2014 / Barossa Valley / Tinta Amarela / Tinta Cão / Touriga

Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Bakkheia United & Undaunted Mourvédre Shiraz 2013

08:30 Stu.

Plum - square on the nose; slight edge of wild herb, of violets and lavender. Brambly, woody spice, savoury becomes the dominant profile. Inky, licorice, black fruit and spice - warms the gums, radiates through the palate and lingers. Reasonable length. 89 Tasted on: Monday 29th December Source: Sample Price: $18 Alcohol: 13.6% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.bakkheia.com.au/Bakkheia/Welcome.html Follow...

2013 / Geographe / Mataro et al / Shiraz

Monday, 12 January 2015

Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2010

18:36 Stu.

Exquisitely varietal, unequivocally regional. Bay, bush and cedar - the latter a wonderful seasoning to the wine's aromatic profile. Cocoa dusted, dusky violet and a little earth. Elegantly medium bodied, sees black olive, capsicum and a little herb. A good framework...

2010 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Margaret River / Merlot

Sunday, 11 January 2015

Inkwell Black and Blue Fortified Late Harvest Zinfandel 2012

09:00 Stu.

Beautiful bottle here (alas no image), like a large...inkwell. Black and blue. Smells as its name suggests. Of Muscatels, rum and raisin, spice; black and blue fruit - a little of that rancio, caramel aroma. Thick, black, layered, delicious depth - molasses and licorice. Then, of cherry, spice and fruitcake. Whilst it may have been 30+ degrees over Christmas here in Brisbane, this was...

2012 / McLaren Vale / Zinfandel

Saturday, 10 January 2015

Blue Poles Teroldego 2009

16:01 Stu.

One of only two producers of Teroldego - that I am aware of - in Australia. The cuttings from which the Blue Poles vines were planted came from ex Cape Mentelle winemaker Rob Durham. You can read a bit about the background to the variety and Blue Poles own history with...

2009 / Margaret River / Teroldego

Friday, 9 January 2015

O'Leary Walker Wyebo Shiraz 2012

21:20 Stu.

Adding to the collective capital of Shiraz/ Syrah from the Adelaide Hills comes this example from O'Leary Walker. Opens with a medley of red fruits that only grows in stature with time. Touches of latent spice and cool-ish pepper. Medium bodied, soft and easy...

2012 / Adelaide Hills / Shiraz

Thursday, 8 January 2015

Wild Duck Creek Springflat Shiraz 2004

07:52 Stu.

Back in the days when Australia was the darling of Bob "The Nose" Parker, a run of spectacular reviews delivered Wild Duck Creek into the minds of those who hung on his Bobness' every word. Read Campbell Mattinson's excellent "Why the French Hate Us" for more on that period...

2004 / heathcote / Shiraz

Wednesday, 7 January 2015

O'Leary Walker Clare Valley McLaren Vale Shiraz 2012

08:07 Stu.

A 70/30 blend of Shiraz from Clare Valley and McLaren Vale. Cherry and the skin of plums, a sprinkle of cedary spice, fresh sage. A little vanilla comes through over red fruits, that latterly show their hand to be more in the redcurrant spectrum. Medium bodied,...

2012 / Clare Valley / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Monday, 5 January 2015

Equipo Navazos I Think Manzanilla En Rama

20:26 Stu.

You may be deceived in thinking this a sherry for the i generation. But whilst, aromatically at least, it shares something with that i-prefix everything lifestyle technology company, the "I Think" is so named after the phrase scrawled by Charles Darwin on one of the pages...

Manzanilla / NV / Sherry / Spain

Inkwell Infidels Primitivo 2013

08:48 Stu.

Considered winemaking here from Dudley Brown. Sees a total production of 3000 bottles; declared inclusion of 8% Shiraz, use of 30% new American oak - the only wine for which Inkwell uses American oak. It stands out like the proverbial chippie's thumb here - and it works....

2013 / McLaren Vale / Primitivo

Saturday, 3 January 2015

Grant Burge Kraft Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2014

11:55 Stu.

Shows good restraint for the variety. Leads with citrus, almost a lemon sherbet lead-in with faint tropicals supplementing the view. Fails to back this up on the palate. Distinct muteness by comparison, a little tropical fruit and candy expression coming through to save...

2014 / Adelaide Hills / Sauvignon Blanc

Grant Burge Thorn Riesling 2014

09:25 Stu.

Typical Eden Valley lime entree, added to which is a soft tropical fruit profile. Mineral and acid, generosity of flavour, yet without the laser precision of many a Riesling. Enough flavour to be interesting. Decent length. Riesling's a tough market at the full tote price,...

2014 / Eden Valley / riesling

Friday, 2 January 2015

Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigley Rosé 2014

12:10 Stu.

Lurid pink - the pale 'n' dry revolution is over. This is Australian Rosé. Raspberry, hints of crunch cranberry, creamy custard top notes. Juicy red fruit, tang and tart cranberry, crunch of acid, a little phenolic chew. Residual fruit sweetness - refreshing, more-ish....

2014 / grenache / McLaren Vale / Rosé

K1 by Geoff Hardy Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2012

07:40 Stu.

I'd hang my hat on there being a small % of Viognier in this - but I couldn't find anything to confirm or deny that addition. Stonefruit, seville orange freshness - lovely aromatic expression. This has a different aromatic profile to the '10, which in itself I...

2012 / Adelaide Hills / Shiraz

Thursday, 1 January 2015

Yelland & Papps Devote Roussanne 2013

13:20 Stu.

The third consecutive vintage of the Y&P Devote Roussanne, so consistent. Florals, white peach, almond and a little chicken stock. Textural beauty, creamy feel and notes of creamy and cashew too. There's a touch of spice back end to add extra detail. Oddly,...

2013 / Barossa Valley / Roussanne

Grant Burge Summers Chardonnay 2012

13:06 Stu.

Butter on warm toast with a side of grilled peaches. Cream and vanilla, a little stonefruit panacotta. Acid a touch high for my liking - picked a touch too early. Despite that it manages to refrain from being too skinny. Moderate on the finish. 89 Tasted on: Sunday...

2012 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay

Grant Burge East Argyle Pinot Gris 2014

13:00 Stu.

Hints of apple and so provide the calling card for the variety and style. Shape and texture, some semblance of flavour on the fore and mid-palates but lacking in the final third. I appreciated the sotto voce style and mouthfeel here. 87 Tasted on: Sunday 14th December,...

2014 / Adelaide Hills / Pinot Gris

Willow Bridge Estate Solana Rosé 2014

09:07 Stu.

"Got any salmon? -- sorted Ya ha ha ha ha" ~ The Shamen, Ebeneezer Goode An attractive individual, has that russet-salmon thing going on, creates a powerful allure. I was actually hankering for a beer, one of those rare apparent temps around the high-30s in Brisbane,...

2014 / Geographe / Rosé / Tempranillo

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