Quartz Hill Viognier 2014

Quartz Hill Viognier 2014

  16:36    Stu.

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Yes, Yes, Yes - kinda like the café scene in "When Harry Met Sally", except applied to Viognier. Sees a little oak that lends a gentleness to the wine: creamy, vanilla.  Textural, generous of flavour - without being over stated. Vanilla, apricot and a little...

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Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Pinot Grigio 2015

Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Pinot Grigio 2015

  16:31    Stu.

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Pear, sherbet, mineral and quartz;  stony, mineral, crisp; gentle spice that tickles. Pretty sessionable, but little to really excite. 90  Tasted on: Thursday 31st December: Root day Source: Sample Price: $25 Alcohol: 13.3% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://montalto.com.au/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomn...

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Running With Bulls Barossa Garnacha 2015

Running With Bulls Barossa Garnacha 2015

  10:30    Stu.

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Barossan Pinot. Stylised as 'Garnach' in line with the Running With the Bulls theme. Sees no oak, this is all about purity of fruit. There are some Rosés that are darker than this. Ultra fragrant, spicy, a wonderful perfume - that simply demands your attention, seduces...

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Montalto Estate Pinot Noir 2014

Montalto Estate Pinot Noir 2014

  10:30    Stu.

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Always comes across as the elder statesman, to Pennon Hill’s ‘New Kid on the Block’ - a wine of power and substance, formed from the estate’s best parcels of fruit: cherry, almost briar - like a cool climate Shiraz - stems. Depth, more about deep red and almost black...

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Montalto Pennon Hill Pinot Noir 2014

Montalto Pennon Hill Pinot Noir 2014

  14:13    Stu.

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Strawberry, cherry, open and inviting red berry aromatics with a modicum of spice.  More of the same on the palate, fruit a little darker, spice a little more prominent;  good tannin structure and a little dried herb to augment to overall package.  Excellent...

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Yelland & Papps Vermentino

Yelland & Papps Vermentino

  10:00    Stu.

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The Y&P team seem to have struck a winning formula here. It's interesting to note the stylist differences in subsequent releases (notes). This 2015 guise shows expressive aromatics: citrus touch of Granny Smith segueing to tropical fruit - a hint of guava. But as with...

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Katnook Founder's Block Sparkling Shiraz 2013

Katnook Founder's Block Sparkling Shiraz 2013

  14:07    Stu.

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Image courtesy of Katnook Estate www.katnookestate.com.au. Black, jammy fruits, plummy Red/black fruit, lacking depth and the feel one might expect. Dry, to the point of lacklustre.  Little depth - off bottle? 86 Tasted on: Friday 25th December,...

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Torzi Matthews Schist Rock Shiraz 2014

Torzi Matthews Schist Rock Shiraz 2014

  10:30    Stu.

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Dom Torzi and Tracy Matthews seem to go from strength to strength, whether its stalwarts under their own label, emerging varieties or releases under the 'Long Hop' banner, the wines always seem to offer excellent value for money, as well as being standout wines irrespective...

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d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2011

d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2011

  19:30    Stu.

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Much has been written about the vintage of 2011, sufficient for me to not have to labour the point here. That said, it's always of interest to taste the premium releases from, what was, a difficult vintage for many. Dark, brooding, earthen, gamey, meaty. Solid Lithe...

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Esperanza Touriga 2014

Esperanza Touriga 2014

  06:45    Stu.

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Blue/purple fruit, violets, woody, muscovado sugar.  Medium bodied. Powdery tannin, drying, firm flavour through the wine. Blue, black fruit, hints of bitter cocoa and smokey graphite 91  Tasted on: Tuesday 29th December: Leaf to Fruit Source: Sample Price:...

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Ridgemill Estate Chardonnay 2014

Ridgemill Estate Chardonnay 2014

  20:04    Stu.

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Creamy, citrusy, stonefruit; subtle barrel character wafts from the glass  Lemons, limes, veering towards sharper grapefruit character; has texture, composure, mineral and spice. Plenty going on again.  Phenolic touches, good length, the nigh-waxy texture...

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Faux Pas Mourvédre 2014

Faux Pas Mourvédre 2014

  09:58    Stu.

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Meaty, plummy, hints of licorice and a touch of molasses. Has depth but retains a lightness, an easy going charm.   Mourvédre in a lighter, juicier guise, still full of body. Touches of tannin, lovely balance of sweet fruit against inherent savoury notions.  Has...

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Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2012

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2012

  11:00    Stu.

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Barrel ferment, citrus fresh, spicy oak; clean and pure, lemon barley.  Mealy, smoked almond, smokey; lime, honeyed, pear drops and textural nuances. Fruit here is exemplary.  Length is perpetual. Bravo. 93+  Tasted on: Sunday 13th December:...

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Best's Great Western Bin No.1 Shiraz 2014

Best's Great Western Bin No.1 Shiraz 2014

  10:15    Stu.

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Blue fruit, purple florals, spice; a 'prettiness' to the wine, alluring. Bit of smokey oak Medium bodied, delightful powdery/graphite tannin structure.   Good acid structure, length to boot. Will live, provided you can refrain from drinking it now. 92  Tasted...

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Robert Stein Riesling 2015

Robert Stein Riesling 2015

  19:21    Stu.

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Lime, florals, a little tropical fruit (mango pulp, guava-esque), Shows some texture, a little residual sweetness against acidity, ostensibly.  Length is pure, long - not in the classic EV sense. Slight pithy, crunch on conclusion. 92  Tasted on: Sunday...

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Jansz Vintage Cuvée 2010

Jansz Vintage Cuvée 2010

  12:30    Stu.

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Golden butter honey crunch, biscuit, baked goods and cream.  Leesy depth, autolysis derived complexity and depth; fresh with some crisp and bristling acids Reasonable length. 91  Tasted on: Thursday 31st December: Root day Source: Sample Price: $46.95 Alcohol:...

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Jansz Rosé Brut NV

Jansz Rosé Brut NV

  10:30    Stu.

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Soft, fresh, Bready notes; strawberry, Turkish delight and rose water.  Rounded, creamy palate - a little carry of the aromas. Finishes with a quartzy, mineral note. Clean, aperitif style. 89  Tasted on: Sunday 13th December: a Fruit Day  Source:...

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Ballycroft Small Berry American Oak Shiraz 2012

Ballycroft Small Berry American Oak Shiraz 2012

  10:00    Stu.

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Another high-octane release from the Ballycroft stable. Has residual hints of coconut oil, like a walk down a European beach taking in the aroma of sun-worshippers. Dense black fruit, porty and rich.  Sweet fruit, ripe sugar plum, black fruit - a little desiccated coconut...

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Ballycroft Small Berry French Oak Shiraz 2012

Ballycroft Small Berry French Oak Shiraz 2012

  10:00    Stu.

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Oak dominates the nose, an impact wine, big and bold; smells a touch pruney, desiccated fruit.  Slick, glycerol feel on entry; spice, black fruit - but it's really about the slick feel as the wine races across the palate.  Dense, chewy, black fruit and...

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Out of Step Wine Co Syme on Yarra Shiraz 2014

Out of Step Wine Co Syme on Yarra Shiraz 2014

  15:00    Stu.

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Savoury, spicy, stemmy; a little brown licorice, balsamic reduction (80% whole bunches if that level of input flicks your switch). Medium bodied, easy going, juicy - it kind of races across the palate and backs up the juice with some stemmy, twiggy, nutty notes.  Finishes...

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Out of Step Wine Co Daytime Red 2015

Out of Step Wine Co Daytime Red 2015

  10:00    Stu.

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“keep a bit of our 2015 fruit aside, make a few small batches of wine, a bit of stems, some co-fermentation, a bit of carbonic, & leave a barrel or two unsulphured & untopped, with the vision of putting these pieces together.”  The...

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Cooks Lot 'Lot 1111' Pinot Noir 2014

Cooks Lot 'Lot 1111' Pinot Noir 2014

  14:30    Stu.

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Black cherry, toast, char and dried earth; of a definite savoury bent Supple palate, spongey texture; soft, delicate - spice, not so much by way of tannin, a light costing - reasonable length. 88  Tasted on: Friday 11th December: a Fruit day Source: Sample Price:...

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Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Regence NV

Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Regence NV

  10:30    Stu.

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A blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. Fermented in stainless steel and spends four years on lees for extra depth and complexity. Citrus, buttery brioche and mealy notes greet you on pour. Has a textural richness, creamy and sensuous with a flavour profile that...

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Yelland & Papps Eden Valley Riesling 2015

Yelland & Papps Eden Valley Riesling 2015

  10:30    Stu.

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Pure Eden Valley rizza on offer here, with a little Yelland & Papps twist.  Lime with a sharper touch of grapefruit, over a little lemon. Has some of that floral character too: spring Jasmine perhaps.  Lively palate, zip and energy - segues nicely...

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Huntington Estate Semillon 2015

Huntington Estate Semillon 2015

  10:30    Stu.

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A new winery for me, and one of the oldest in a region that's in the ascendancy.  Lemon, butter, lemongrass - beautifully fresh and fragrant intro. Citrus coursing through the palate, acid present yet not as electrifying as some in youth.  Generous...

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Lark Hill Grüner Veltliner 2015

Lark Hill Grüner Veltliner 2015

  14:00    Stu.

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Tasted alongside Hahndorf Hill's 2015 release (note), this shows more on the tropical spectrum: passion fruit, guava, melon. Fruit on the palate, a little tang, some tinned fruit syrup sweetness; textural but also with chalky-phenolic dryness. Sees some barrel in addition...

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Hahndorf Hill Winery 'GRU' Grüner Veltliner 2015

Hahndorf Hill Winery 'GRU' Grüner Veltliner 2015

  07:03    Stu.

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Rapidly becoming one of the Adelaide Hills' signature varieties. This example from pioneers Hahndorf Hill shows classic signature of white pepper, leading citrus, stonefruit and even a little root veg.   The palate exhibits fleshy, tropicals, citrus and grapefruit...

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2015: A Year of Change

2015: A Year of Change

  12:25    Stu.

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If 2014 (see: Thoughts on Fourteen) was a year of reflection, of choosing to capture some poignant moments from that year, then 2015 will no doubt be seen as my year of change. My reflections on 2014 were bookended with a recap of a trip to the Mornington Peninsula...

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