Meshes primary red fruit with savoury nuances delivered from the inclusion of stems. Lends it an altogether more serious, savoury air. Spicy, savoury, smooth - silken threads meander around the palate, delivering savoury licks and spicy kicks. Good line of flavour, lasting carry, a little bitterness lingers. Adds, rather than detracts. 91 Tasted on: Monday 24th August, a Leaf to Fruit day Source: Sample Price: $40 Alcohol: 14.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.fauxpaswines.com.au/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Second release of this interesting white blend (2013) and a 'sister' to the 'Red Earth Child'. Musk and rose water clear on the nose provide clues as to the presence of Gewürztraminer here. Residual hints of vanilla, creamy almond and cashew provide further hints, a little stonefruit suggestive of Viognier. A wine of texture, substance - a little phenolic tug, good width and all round shape. Reminiscent of white rhone blends, in feel if not flavour. Good length - an impressive follow up to its debut. 92 Tasted on: Monday 31st August, a Flower to Leaf day Source: Sample Price: $35 Alcohol: 12.9% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.toppers.com.au/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Lovely berry derived aromatics, supplemented with hints of floral (lavender?) and spice. Touch of strawberries and cream latterly, a little savoury top note rounding things out. Layered texture, cascading fruit, persistence of flavour. There's a little chalky dryness - ostensibly dry with a little retention of fruit, overall well balanced. Length to boot - impressive shift to dryer territory. 91 Tasted on: Saturday 22nd August, a Flower to Leaf day Source: Sample Price: $22 Alcohol: 12.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.cookslot.com.au/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Not entirely sure why you'd grow Chardonnay in the Barossa... Toast and oak, shows signs of advanced development: a touch figgy with residual citrus curd hints. Flat palate profile, oak and and sour fruit. Retains some length, a bout its only redeeming feature - priced accordingly. 84 Tasted on: Wednesday 26th August, a Fruit day Source: Cellar Door Price: $8 Alcohol: 13% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.b3wines.com.au/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
One of the stalwarts from the revolution that threatened to propel dry, savoury and textural rosé into the mindset of the Australian drinker. Think and drink pink sadly seems to have been overlooked by the pervasive talk dry, think sweet mindset. Made by winemaker Sam Wigan (see also Running With Bulls) and of course a Yalumba/ Hill Smith Family Vineyard brand. The wine in question sees 1-2 hours in a press (colour) and 50% is sent off to barrel for wile yeast fermentation, with fortnightly for 2 months (think texture). Cool red berry aromatics, a little spice and seasoning. Crisp and dry, a little chalky phenolic pucker. The battonage is evident with width, hold the wine (if at all possible) for more of that tangy cranberry and raspberry. Length = generous, a little bite. Cracking example. 92 Tasted on: Saturday 22nd August, a Flower to Leaf day Source: Sample Price: $17.95 Alcohol: 13% Closure: Screwcap Website: https://www.rogersandrufus.com/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Perfectly pitched oak framing red and black fruit over a little menthol and seasoning. Possesses a subtlety, an allure... Medium bodied, succulent texture, fantastic structure. Fruit, oak, seasoning, excellent carriage of flavour. Good to go now, but would like to see it as it integrates and takes on more of a savoury mien. 92+ Tasted on: Thursday 20th August, a Root to Flower day Source: Sample Price: $63 Alcohol: 13.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: www.leeuwinestate.com.au Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Red berry fruit framed up with adroitly handled oak, seasoning and leaf. Medium bodied, firm, yet powdery, tannin, good solid core with eucalyptus and layers of savoury flavour. Shows some aniseed too - somewhat unusually. Structure, could do with a little more fruit, yet has the legs for the long haul. 91 Tasted on: Thursday 20th August, a Root to Flower day Source: Sample Price: $ Screwcap Alcohol: 14.3% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
I often seek out medium-dry (a Riesling that carries some retained sugar, not necessarily overtly sweet in style) Rieslings to accompany dishes with a little extra spice. Pewsey Vale's Prima is executed well. Seeing the retention of around 24-25 g/l of residual sugar, yet doesn't come across as too sweet, cloying and not at the expense of fruit. The wine still sees plenty of lemon/lime fruit, preserved lemons in the mix too. There's good carry of flavour. Certainly one to seek out - caveat emptor it's not a dry Riesling. Touch and go for a point higher 91 Tasted on: Tuesday 18th August, a Root day Source: Sample Price: $26 Alcohol: 9.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.pewseyvale.com Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
A very different guise to the 2013 - somewhat more serious, no less delicious. Indeed, from the producer's website: "A very different cat to our 2013 Nebbiolo from the same site. Some similarities in that the fruit was once again spectacular (the John family truly are great growers) & that there were no additions other than sulphur dioxide once the wine was through malo. But picked a little later for extra weight". Shows tar and old leather, florals - good varietal intro. The palate see a fresh acid structure with a good grain of tannin. There's fruit to boot - a little spiced red fruit, but ultimately savoury. It offers damn good drinking - a familial line to that earlier vintage reviewed - and concludes on an excellent savoury length. Tasted on: Monday 17th August, a Fruit to Root day Source: Sample Price: $30 Alcohol: 14% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Dusty, dusky hints, a little smokey violet and lavender on show. Iron, blue fruit, licorice - varietal. Good carry of chalky tannin on the finish, a finish that lingers. Good start point for those unfamiliar with the variety. 89 Tasted on: Saturday 15th August: a Leaf to Fruit day Source: Sample Price: $18.99 Alcohol: 13.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.yalumba.com/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
