Terre á Terre Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Terre á Terre Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

  15:00    Stu.

---

Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (95% ) with a (no required to declare portion) of Cabernet Franc. And oh what classy Cabernet it is. Oak is on hand here: wafery, cedar, pine forest, resinous; savoury perfume. Fine, medium bodied wine, ultra fine...

Read More

En Soleil Pinot Gris by Cape Jaffa 2015

En Soleil Pinot Gris by Cape Jaffa 2015

  08:30    Stu.

---

Lightly poached pear, suggesting of nectarine. Quite mute...kept wanting it to wake up. Luscious, textural spread oozing its way across the palate; light spice, a little woody, white root veg element (I kinda often see raw parsnip in something like this, or Grüner).  Reasonable...

Read More

O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2016

O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2016

  15:30    Stu.

---

The annual release of O'Leary Walker's Watervale and Polish Hill River Rieslings is an event to keep an eye out for. Generally found around the $20-25 mark, representing excellent drinking now and rewarding the patient wine buyer with an ability to age. Lime, florals,...

Read More

Cush & Cush Granite Belt Verdelho 2016

Cush & Cush Granite Belt Verdelho 2016

  08:30    Stu.

---

Dave Cush - ex-Spring Vale Tasmania - and wife Kris have set up Cush & Cush Wine Co, with an initial offering of three wines, this Verdelho along with a Vermentino (Heathcote) and a Grenache/Mataro blend (McLaren Vale). To the wine in question, a select parcel of...

Read More

Old Jarvie 'The Saviour' Tempranillo Garnacha Monastrell 2015

Old Jarvie 'The Saviour' Tempranillo Garnacha Monastrell 2015

  19:14    Stu.

---

Second label from the Hither & Yon team, celebrating the region's maritime history and influence on viticulture. Packaging somewhat reminiscent of old portraiture. Fruit overlaid with a sense of savoury: there's wood, spice and hints of cola. It's...

Read More

Tenuta di Fessina Erse Etna DOC Nerello Mascalese 2014

Tenuta di Fessina Erse Etna DOC Nerello Mascalese 2014

  16:43    Stu.

---

Erse is named after the Greek goddess of 'dew'. Smokey, dusky, with smouldering red fruit a lingering presence on the nose. Light, lithe, possesses volcanicity - that sense of a wine that - to me - is airy like a pumice stone; fine texture, it opens up to reveal a...

Read More

Rusden Black Guts Shiraz 2013

Rusden Black Guts Shiraz 2013

  08:30    Stu.

---

Oak: all new French. Subtelty is not its forté. It's all about the deep, stewed, black fruit, tarry, oak - it's the Black Guts, and it does what it says on the tin! There's caramel, coffee oak, smooth chocolate. It's thick, lavish, but as seems the way with Rusden...

Read More

Hentley Farm The Stray Mongrel 2015

Hentley Farm The Stray Mongrel 2015

  15:00    Stu.

---

Spends time in old French (70%) and American (30%) barrels - undergo natural malolactic fermentation then returned to oak to mature for a total of 8 months. At risk of being labelled a wine bore (it's OK, the label fits), I include such detail as it's important...

Read More

Hentley Farm Shiraz 2015

Hentley Farm Shiraz 2015

  09:00    Stu.

---

Spends 10 months in mostly old French hogs and fruit is drawn from a selection of multiple Shiraz blocks, with different maceration periods and elevage regimes. On opening a little like Bresaola; shows black fruit, grilled nuts, tapenade. Quite closed, less overt...

Read More

Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

  16:30    Stu.

---

Cassis and black cherry slowly flow out of the glass.  Medium bodied, solid core of black fruit, generous and flavoursome, a burst of acidity. There's a semblance of tannin, if a little coarse.  Reasonable length, pretty solid. Works at the price...

Read More

Just Say Vee-on-yay - Viognier Considered

Just Say Vee-on-yay - Viognier Considered

  10:30    Stu.

---

Caroline Mooney - winemaker Bird on a Wire wines - wrote of Marsanne: “(it) has managed to avoid the undulating highs and lows endured by the many wines subject to the pressures of fashionable consumerism.” I offer that the same could not be said of Viognier,...

Read More

Leeuwin Estate Siblings Shiraz 2013

Leeuwin Estate Siblings Shiraz 2013

  08:30    Stu.

---

Hmmm, I wrote down 2013 - but it's now the 2014 that's represented on the winery website. Black fruit, plummy, violets, hints of tobacco and pepper. Medium bodied, smooth, peppery, minerally tannin profile - goes alright, but comes across somewhat square. Go the...

Read More

St Hallett Butcher's Cart Shiraz 2014

St Hallett Butcher's Cart Shiraz 2014

  16:00    Stu.

---

Not got too much to say about this one. Black fruit, hints of coffee bean oak. Approachable, varietal, regional.  Smooth wine on entry, gruff tannin. However it then gives way to jarring citrus acidity, that swamps the palate. 86  It has garnered more favourable...

Read More

Ballycroft Small Berry Mataro Shiraz 2012

Ballycroft Small Berry Mataro Shiraz 2012

  08:30    Stu.

---

A blend of Mataro (51%) and Shiraz (49%). I like how winemaker Joe Evans plays with Mataro, harnessing it’s inherent depth of aroma to capture a wine that’s like peering into the abyss. Here, Mataro has been paired with Barossa stalwart Shiraz to create a wine that offers depth, of liquorice and that heady plummy darkness.   More of the same on the palate, where some fine, sandy tannin...

Read More

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2013

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2013

  08:30    Stu.

---

Like it’s Cabernet counterpart, the oak influence is evident here, yet somewhat paired back from how I remember it in prior years. It offers plenty of coconut and tastiness over well presented blackcurrant and plummy fruit.  It’s well presented on the palate, more...

Read More

Bremerton Walter’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Bremerton Walter’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

  08:30    Stu.

---

A new wine from Bremerton for me. Big and bold, makes its presence known with an oak cloaked fist that smashes you on the nose: it sees 20 months in new French barriques, its resinous and clearly built for the long haul. More of the same on the palate, with refined, structural...

Read More

Taylor’s Promised Land Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Taylor’s Promised Land Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

  14:30    Stu.

---

Generic red fruit on offer here, lacks a varietal distinction from my blogger’s view point. Still, what am I asking of it at $14? Fair amount of sweet black fruit, almost compote like in its representation. Too sweet for my liking. Offers a little tannin, but not much else. Doesn’t really put a foot wrong, yet does little right either There’s better (try the Merlot in the same range). A...

Read More

Riversdale Estate Musca Syrah 2014

Riversdale Estate Musca Syrah 2014

  08:30    Stu.

---

Sappy elements, of new growth and hedgerow (don't be alarmed now) suggestive of whole bunch inclusion.  Mid-weight, spice, depth that builds. Somewhat reminiscent of a peppery Crozes-Hermitage. Beyond that a little black cherry, blackcurrant fruit - a cautious...

Read More

Katnook Founder's Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Katnook Founder's Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

  14:13    Stu.

---

All prime cassis, sitting square and front - you can see how it would appeal. There's gum and a little mint to boot.  All that doesn't quite translate to the palate, mid-weight, semblance of black fruit and a little gruff tannin on the finish.  The...

Read More

Shaw & Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2014

Shaw & Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2014

  08:30    Stu.

---

Whilst Shaw + Smith's exemplar M3 Chardonnay is an exercise in regional composition, the individual site that makes up much of the core of that wine has been celebrated with its own single vineyard release in the portfolio.  Comprising about three puncheons,...

Read More

De Bortoli La Boheme Act Two Pinot Noir Rosé 2016

De Bortoli La Boheme Act Two Pinot Noir Rosé 2016

  11:23    Stu.

---

Strawberry leads here, a little macerated red berry fruit; musky, rose, hint of citrus. Dry, with a savoury - almost twiggy - mien; there's a suggestion of caramelisation, candied fruits. It's long on the finish, savoury and drying. A consistent standout example of...

Read More

Rock of Wisdom Grenache 2014

Rock of Wisdom Grenache 2014

  08:30    Stu.

---

A mere 852 bottles/ 71 dozen made - never let it be said that wine scribes/bloggers/pontificators are not in a privileged position. Rock of Wisdom is Pete (former BD Viti at Torbreck, now grape whisperer at Unico Zelo) and Sofi (Pete's boss, consumer of booze). A...

Read More

The Lane Block 1A Chardonnay 2015

The Lane Block 1A Chardonnay 2015

  14:30    Stu.

---

Look, I'm going to come out with it and say that I just didn't find this as convincing as the 3A. Opens with stonefruit that gives way to creamed corn with a sweet nuttiness.  Palate immediately shows something substantive, weighty, fleshy; there's quite a throw...

Read More

Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Riesling 2016

Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Riesling 2016

  08:30    Stu.

---

Fresh, fragrant, florals - with kaffir lime over bath salts. Suggestion of tropical fruit, mandarin.  Has a deftness, a lightness if you like - goes to a little powdery crunch, kinda like talcum, or even fresh powdery snow. Has a hardness to its finish, almost...

Read More

Top 100 Wine Blog?

Top 100 Wine Blog?

  12:30    Stu.

---

An email dropped into my Inbox overnight promoting a 'Top 100 Wine Blogs' list. I normally pay scant regard to such things, for they either tend to be geographically focussed (exclusively US based) or are list heavy with those that consider themselves key influencers...

Read More

Cape Jaffa 'Riptide' Red Blend 2015

Cape Jaffa 'Riptide' Red Blend 2015

  18:18    Stu.

---

"The Inspiration:  I was inspired by my travels to do something totally bizarre so blended white viognier juice with red Shiraz skins prior to fermentation." Creative licence for the artist looking to have a bit of fun. Now comes in a tall, brown, Germanic Riesling-esque...

Read More

Cirillo 'The Vincent' Grenache 2015

Cirillo 'The Vincent' Grenache 2015

  12:13    Stu.

---

Alright, I admit it, I've got a bit of a bone for 2015 Grenache. Admittedly the subset of those tasted is limited (think this, Whistler's 'Get in My Belly' and Yelland & Papps' Second Take).  Those examples released as one year olds, unencumbered by oak, showing...

Read More

Montalto Pinot Gris 2015

Montalto Pinot Gris 2015

  09:42    Stu.

---

Shit, get the fire extinguisher - Montalto are on fire!  By Jove this has the lot: texture, tang, acidity and even salinity. Had me yearning for more than just a tasting glass - unusual for a Gris I tell thee.  It's fleshy in the mouth, and take note that...

Read More

d'Arenberg: The Noble Sweet Quartet

d'Arenberg: The Noble Sweet Quartet

  08:00    Stu.

---

Beautifully packaged range of stickies from the tireless d'Arenberg. After tasting/writing these up, I had great fun sharing them with some friends and a hastily constructed pavlova. Went down a treat. d’Arenberg The Noble Mud Pie Viognier Arneis 2015 Sample Screwcap...

Read More

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Merlot 2012

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Merlot 2012

  00:20    Stu.

---

A pretty straight blend of Cabernet (80%) and Merlot (20%). Good quality Cabernet leads with this number: a little plum, dusty cedar, a little tobacco. Fine, medium bodied wine on entry; layered blackcurrant, a little coffee and vanilla in the mix. Tannin is fine...

Read More

Rymill The Yearling Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Rymill The Yearling Sauvignon Blanc 2016

  08:00    Stu.

---

Fresh and tropical little thing here: honeydew melon, suggestion of passionfruit pulp all sitting an underlying zesty citrus frame. Clean, ease of entry and it slips across the palate. Citrus in the main with a harder, minerally edge. Some grip provides extra presence...

Read More

Yalumba Y Series Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Yalumba Y Series Sauvignon Blanc 2015

  08:30    Stu.

---

Comes on quite strong, the herbaceous, grassy qualities strong here. Suggests a significant presence of Adelaide Hills fruit. Bitter lemon, sherbet, segues to a little tropical fruit. It's a lively one I'll tell you. Packs a fair bit of zing, zest, and pizazz into itself. Reasonable...

Read More

Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2016

  14:30    Stu.

---

Exemplary Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc handled with kid gloves, yes it speaks of region and variety, but does so sotto voce, like the learned elder statesmen it is.  There's lemon, lemon balm, paw paw - an aromatic complexity we've come to expect. Moves up a gear...

Read More

Taylor’s Promised Land Merlot 2014

Taylor’s Promised Land Merlot 2014

  07:30    Stu.

---

Plummy depths with chocolate hints - there’s a little vanilla accented oak in the mix too. So far, so good.  Soft, smooth, plush and easy going. There’s spice, particularly pepper, tannin is a little gruff but does give substance Plenty of black fruit on...

Read More