May 2016 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Thursday, 26 May 2016

Yelland & Papps Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

21:20 Stu.

Cigar box, cedar and bay - soft aromatics, distinctly varietal. Fresh, more upfront palate character, gentle acid that freshens, awakens the palate. Good fruit character - black fruit: blackcurrant, a little plum - and the acid carries a line. 90 Tasted...

2014 / Barossa Valley / Cabernet Sauvignon

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Deakin Estate Shiraz 2015

10:40 Stu.

A little funk, reduction, fermented meats; savoury. Savoury, touches of fruits of the forest. Well made, not confected - avoids all the pitfalls of wine at this price point. 88 Tasted on: Thursday 5th May: Leaf to Fruit day Source: Sample Price: $10 Alcohol:...

2015 / Murray Darling / Shiraz

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Yelland & Papps Vin de Soif 2014

18:59 Stu.

A blend of Grenache/ Mataro/ Carignan (75/17/9% respectively). For the first time the blend eschews Barossa stalwart Shiraz. Fermented in old French and American 18 months, the usual wild ferment, unfined and unfiltered. Grenache leads with its pronounced...

2014 / Carignan / grenache / Mataro et al

Monday, 23 May 2016

Samuel's Gorge Kaleidoscopic Horizons Garnacha Tempranillo 2013

09:34 Stu.

A little lift on opening, distorts the fruit; given time: coffee bean, garrigue, lavender. Big and bold, oak is prominent - American at that - tannin is assertive, gruff and drying; clearly one for the long-haul, the fruit is there - although somewhat suppressed by...

2013 / grenache / McLaren Vale / Tempranillo

Saturday, 21 May 2016

Hither & Yon Muscat Blanc 2015

12:18 Stu.

Pass the Oysters? Husk, almond meal, touch of briny character. Immediately dry, citrus, briny, with a freshening acidity; good dryness to the wine. Persistent, comes with a light dry chalkiness, a grip that gives and gives. Good wine, very enjoyable. 91 Tasted...

2015 / McLaren Vale / Muscat Blanc

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Shiraz 2011

09:52 Stu.

Released as a 5yo - and i'm not entirely sure where it is trying to position itself. The heavy hand of oak lingers long on this wine. Something earthen, muddy, treated timber - as if for a freshly prepared garden bed. The oak is clearly evident on...

2011 / Orange / Shiraz

Friday, 20 May 2016

Mitchell Harris Shiraz 2013

08:00 Stu.

Sees the inclusion of 25% whole bunch and is co-fermented with 2% Viognier. Sweet-spice, root veg, sappy hints - evidence of the effective use of whole bunches and stem inclusion. It's medium bodied, silken, slippery textured; spice, Pyrenees pepper, excellent...

2013 / Pyrenees / Shiraz

Thursday, 19 May 2016

La La Land Tempranillo 2015

10:34 Stu.

Great aromas! Berry, cherry and plum leap from the glass here. It has that sense of juiciness, of inviting you in. Great start. Medium bodied, good juice on offer, a bit of raspy tannin - sure it's not the most complex wine, doubt it purports to be at 16 sheets....

2015 / Murray Darling / Tempranillo

Mount Avoca Back Block Shiraz 2014

07:11 Stu.

Plummy with a liberal seasoning of white pepper; seductive, a hint of French oak in the frame too, again seasoning. Medium bodied, quality fruit abounds. There's a combination assault of acid and beautifully powdered tannin - it kinda happens all at once, it's not schizophrenic,...

2014 / Pyrenees / Shiraz

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Mount Pleasant Leontine Chardonnay 2013

06:05 Stu.

From the Mount Pleasant Legacy range, honouring the Mother of arguably Australia's greatest winemaker: Maurice O'Shea. Fresh cut stonefruit underpinned by tangy citrus, perhaps a little like marmalade; delicate hints of oak framework here, adding depth and spice. The...

2013 / Chardonnay / Hunter Valley

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Coriole Nero d'Avola 2015

12:28 Stu.

Expressly aromatic wine, exquisitely perfumed: cherry compote, with a seasoning of sage and perhaps some fresh coriander seed. Light, supple - a lightness, fleet of foot as it dances it way around the palate - a sting in the tail: spice tinged, aniseed twists,...

2015 / McLaren Vale / Nero d'Avola

Sunday, 15 May 2016

Schwarz Meta Mataro 2015

12:00 Stu.

Really enjoying the lighter, sympathetic styles of Mataro on offer. An even hand without sacrificing Mataro's inherent character. Here beautiful perfume: kirsch and aromatic spices, with 27% whole bunch lending a little additional depth. It's light, lithe and nimble...

#ProjectMataro / 2015 / Barossa Valley / Mataro et al

d'Arenberg Custodian Grenache 2013

07:42 Stu.

They’ve certainly got the coulis out on this release: raspberry aplenty here on offer. Fair bit of palate sweetness - sure to be a crowd pleaser in many camps. In many respects it’s a revert to how I was introduced to McLaren Vale Grenache. Shows a bit...

2013 / grenache / McLaren Vale

Saturday, 14 May 2016

Ballabourneen Wines Pinot/Gamay 2015

12:00 Stu.

A Pinot Noir/ Gamay blend from the Hunter Valley, unsure of the cepage. Somewhat surprised to see the alcohol recorded at 15%. Opens with cherry, a little wild strawberry. Squarely medium bodied, a tasty little juice bomb; black cherry, a little savoury edge - earth,...

2015 / Gamay / Hunter Valley / pinot noir

Chaffey Bros Wine Co Düfte Punkt White Blend 2015

07:02 Stu.

Meaning the aromatic point - and boy does this beast live up to its, albeit Germanic, name. A blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Kerner - 41/38/21 respectively: musky, lychee, further tropical elements - aromatic complexity. Textural, nice acid line, dry...

2015 / Eden Valley / Gewürztraminer / Kerner / riesling

Friday, 13 May 2016

Pigs in the House Organic Shiraz 2014

13:44 Stu.

Plum, a little pepper - leading spice - sweeter edges. Well balanced wine with inherent savoury elements of earth, pepper against natural fruit sweetness. A little bitter tea tannin on the back palate. Decent wine. 90 Tasted on: Thursday 7th April: a Fruit...

2014 / Cowra / Shiraz

Thursday, 12 May 2016

S.C.Pannell Arido Rosé 2015

16:00 Stu.

Blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Pinot Meunière (44/36/20 respectively). Strawberry, rose, a little of the boiled lolly; its fresh, fragrant and opens up nicely with little floral waft. Dry, savoury, crisp - crunchy acids that reach into the corners of the palate;...

2015 / Adelaide Hills / Pinot Meunier / pinot noir / Rosé / Syrah

St Hallett Old Vine Grenache 2015

08:00 Stu.

Grenache in 2015 is looking superb, coupled with a defter hand on the variety and I'm a very excited blogger. Shows savoury intent - via some partial whole bunch (% unknown) - over juicy, Jubey red fruit. Lighter end of medium: spice, a suggestion of spritz that gives life, vitality; manages to pull of good presence of fruit, balanced against savoury character - soft - very fine - tannins. A...

2015 / Barossa Valley / grenache

Wednesday, 11 May 2016

Bremerton Racy Rosé 2015

20:43 Stu.

Hints of watermelon over strawberry, toffee apple, boiled lolly. Has a bit of zest and zing on the front palate - a line that coarses across, interspersed with some green herbal bitterness. I can't quite work it out - certainly offers refreshment, but...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek / Rosé / Shiraz

Bremerton Special Release Fiano 2015

08:00 Stu.

Floral, stonefruit and kernels (you do smell them, don't you?). Peach, honeyed edge, quite full flavoured, a little gingery spice that lingers long on the finish. Good acidic punch. Really digging this - needs to be served at the right temp mind. 91 Tasted...

Tuesday, 10 May 2016

Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2011

14:52 Stu.

Chocolate oak over savoury cedar, bay, with bilberry and squishy black fruit; it's intoxicating, seductive, alluring. Fuller of body, taking the wine into your mouth is a seductive experience, it has good presence, fine tannins and a faintly bitter carry of...

2011 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Margaret River / Merlot

St Hallet Eden Valley Riesling 2015

09:14 Stu.

Smells sweet on opening, a little syrupy, like feint rose water syrup; then classic lemon and lime classic kicks in, flowing onto the palate The palate showing hallmark citrus hints, a chalky mid palate, of reasonable length. 89 Tasted on: Wednesday 6th...

2015 / Eden Valley / riesling

Friday, 6 May 2016

Millon Estate 'The Roots' 26 Riesling 2014

07:39 Stu.

New label for me, and an interesting release strategy to have a 2014 Riesling as current release. Spot on Eden Valley Riesling mind: Bickfords lime, lemon, lemon butter; starting to take on some hints of development. Tangy citrus, more orange - almost like an orange...

2014 / Eden Valley / riesling

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Sassy Wines 'The Ivor' Arneis 2015

12:11 Stu.

Citrus, peel, pear - a delicate aromatic expression. Initial hints of fruit give way to a dry, savoury palate long on phenolic structure. Flinty acid - good length. Great savoury appeal initially - but it loses its way for me rather quickly, a single...

2015 / Arneis / Orange

Bremerton Wines Cellar Reserve Vermentino 2015

08:38 Stu.

Spot on aromatics: fresh garden peas, white florals, chalky, a little sea spray. Lacks on the palate, almost like flavour has been sacrificed for some texture. A little sourness, tart, bit of acid to punch home the finish. 89 Tasted on: Sunday 3rd April:...

2015 / Langhorne Creek / Vermentino

Monday, 2 May 2016

Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Shiraz 2014

12:30 Stu.

Challenging vintage on the Peninsula, you wouldn't know it based on these releases from Montalto Estate. Of course challenging barely tells the story, quality exceptional but volumes low. Get in while you can. Plums, mulberry - definitely on the plump and juicier...

2014 / Mornington Peninsula / Shiraz

The Lane Block 5 Shiraz 2014

08:00 Stu.

Cherry, a little plum, exhibiting the cool with a little bacon fat; florals and a sprinkling of white pepper complete the picture. Medium bodied elegance personified, graphite tannin, spice. Tannin deserves a greater mention: in having tasted this over a couple...

2014 / Adelaide Hills / Shiraz

Sunday, 1 May 2016

WayWood Monastrell 2014

09:58 Stu.

Somewhat unusual tasting note in that it is somewhat of a hybrid formed from two separate tasting notes, so same wine from two different bottles tasted about a month apart. The rationale for this approach is partly that I simply could, and partly that I possibly...

#ProjectMataro / 2014 / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale

Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Montepulciano 2014

09:31 Stu.

Very purple smelling, violets and blue/black fruit mix - a handful of blackberries crushed in the hand, juice dribbling down the wrist; darker aromatics lie beneath: a little resinous edge, sweet accents. Light and lively, brisk acidity - lends energy, carries the plum...

2014 / Limestone Coast / Montepulciano

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