Stockman's Ridge Savagnin 2013

Pale green wine of moderate intensity; aromatics of honeydew melon, kiwi fruit and citrus.

Buttery, butter-menthols, some semblance of green fruit that carries through, but is held up against a slightly hard back palate. Overall a balanced wine, just a bit terminal.

Texture and spice on the finish - somewhat difficult to get my head around. 88

Tasted on: Saturday 2nd May, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 13.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.stockmansridge.com.au/

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Rusden Black Guts Shiraz 2012

An interesting composition, but composed and assured it is.

Dry, dusty earth aromatics - baked in the sun, not stewed. A little sweet spice, cinnamon, with a handful of dried grass and herb thrown in for good measure.

Full of body, yet trim and light. Not unctuous, a juicy proposition - acid present, tart fruit, a little satsuma plum freshness. Good grain of tannin that adds up to that overall package.

Good perfume on the finish, herb and fruit. Oh and the name? Let's just say wait until the morning after. 93

Tasted on: Friday 1st May, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $85
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.rusdenwines.com.au/

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Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Montepulciano 2013

Fresh Mediterranean herb (Thyme, oregano) over a base of fruit. Inviting, appealing - Italianate? Has a little earthen truffle, some woody spice with bright blue-ish fruit writ large across its attractive profile.

Medium bodied, rounded, plump - perhaps. Good presence of acid for freshness, a bitter herbal twist backed up with fruit - good balanced package. 89

Tasted on: Thursday 30th April, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.handcraftedbygeoffhardy.com.au/

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Yelland and Papps Devote Shiraz Roussanne 2013

Third consecutive vintage of this - somewhat uncommon - blend. 

Black fruit by way of blackcurrant, mulberry and a little plummy depth - gives way to a little green leaf and orchard fruit. Suggestion of olive skin, citrus peel - and with time that citrus is more prominent. It's certainly not wanting in the character department.

Medium-veering-to-full, with an airy lightness - a tread around the place lightly, an elegance. Citrus acidity provides length, flow and aids shape - good palate flow.

Length is good, smooth and flowing across the back palate. Good carry. Would go 5 in the cellar I'd suggest. 91

Tasted on: Tuesday 28th April, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 12.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

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Ridgemill Estate 'Hungry Horse' Monastrell Tempranillo Garnacha 2012

A Spanish inspired blend of Monastrell, Tempranillo, Garnacha (1/3rd each) 

Opens with some meat and funk, black fruit, some floral lift perhaps; rather, fruits of the forest come to dominate. 

Easy going nature about the palate, fresh-as-you-like acidity to perk things up, fine rub of tannin. A little sweet spice in the mix too. A creep of flavour - in that slightly 'soif' style. 

I challenge you to refrain from simply refilling your glass. Often. 

Spiced salami and blue cheese pizza the go for this round our way. 89 

Tasted on: Fruit to Root day (6th June 2015)
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: %
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://ridgemillestate.com/

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Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Nero d'Avola 2014

A bigger, riper manifestation of a variety that is making a name for itself across a few select regions in South Australia.

Initially it presents itself as smokey, dusty, a little ash over ripe cherry; the patient will be rewarded, with time it's more about the fruit - deep, dark, glossy black cherry.

On initial opening, red fruits abound on the palate initially, but it appears dry, dusty and flat thereafter. Showed better a day after opening, more vital, fruit shining beyond that flat profile - cherry and herb.

OK length, but on initial views it never shifts into second gear. It's certainly a darker, broodier manifestation than the light 'n' juicy wines currently en vogue. 

Caveat emptor: difficult to call - 86 initially, redeeming itself latterly 89.

Tasted on: Tuesday 28th April, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 15%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.handcraftedbygeoffhardy.com.au/

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Yelland & Papps Devote Roussanne 2014

Fresh! Whack - sensory assault: florals, honey, golden delicious and nashi pear in the mix too.

Alcohol down on the 2013: mid-11 here compared to 13% on the previous year. Apparently both picked at the same baumé, around high 11s.

Mealy, honeyed, creamy porridge with honeyed notes. Has a skinsy feel - more apparent as it opens up; stonefruit, textural rub, lower alcohol and a moderate balance of acid. Better for it I think. 92

Tasted on: Monday 27th April, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 11.7% (11.5% on the website)
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

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Rusden Christine's Vineyard Grenache 2012

The block the fruit for this wine was drawn from is cited as winemaker Christian Canute's mother's favourite, it doesn't state whether she is Christine.

A polarising wine stylistically - a shake of the head from the individual I shared this with confirms this. Herbal, stalky, stems, tea, licorice root and a suggestion of some capsicum in the mix.

Medium bodied, light, delicate - amazingly so for a (barely) sub-15% Barossa Grenache. Herbal, an encore of licorice, chalky with puckering acid.

Fruit, spice, interest and intrigue - possibly a wine nerds wine. Polarising, yes, possibly for those - like the winemaker - that like to tread a different path. 92

Tasted on: Sunday 26th April, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14.9%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.rusdenwines.com.au/

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d'Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Sweet, fudgey edge - bit of roasted capsicum that veers to the briny touch of olive skin. A cornucopia of black fruit on the palate, sweet edge, perky and pert acid.

Structure is good, slightly rough, bit of cranberry-esque red fruit. Brings together regional elements, varietal traits in an approachable, crowd-pleasing style. 88

Tasted on: Sunday 26th April, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 14.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.darenberg.com.au/

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