Rusden Driftsand GSM 2015

Rusden Driftsand GSM 2015

  14:30    Stu.

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Rusden's Driftsand is generally well stocked in the independent off-trade. To my mind, that you can get a wine of this quality, with consistent character for around the $20 mark is testament to Cristian Canute's trade. Hints of jube, erring on the side of raspberry...

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d'Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2013

d'Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2013

  08:30    Stu.

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A blend of Cabernet (66%),  Petit Verdot (19%) and Merlot (15%). Touch reductive, rubbery pong sitting in front of savoury driven Cabernet. Hints of cedar give an indication of what lies beneath.   Fairly slick, smooth, experience on entry; minty, floral,...

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Bremerton Bâttonage Chardonnay 2015

Bremerton Bâttonage Chardonnay 2015

  14:30    Stu.

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Has the aromas of the worked Chardonnay: creamy, cashew, almost clarified butter. Creamy, figgy hints in the mix - presence of both fruit, mineral edges and hint of acid. Solid, well worked. 90   Tasted on: Sunday 13th August, a Leaf to Fruit day Source: Sample Price:...

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Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2016

Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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The Pennon Hill range within the Montalto portfolio are the more approachable, here and now wines. Here stonefruit with some residual oak spice framing things up sets the tone early. Just a hint of struck match complexity in the mix too.  It really just hits...

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Ferngrove The King Malbec 2015

Ferngrove The King Malbec 2015

  14:30    Stu.

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It was something of a cheats 'cassoulet' round our way that had me reaching for this. The South Central area of WA may be some distance from France's South-West, but Malbec is not drawing too long a bow between the two.  Leads with a dusky, dusty intro. The faintest...

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Mitchell Harris Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Mitchell Harris Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

  08:30    Stu.

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Sourced from the Peerick Vineyard, Moonambel, Pyrenees. Spends 15m French Oak (20% new) and sees 10% whole bunch inclusion. Delightfully almost lighter-than-medium Cabernet on offer here. Soft, inviting, more in the fruit spectrum than the inherently savoury - yet not...

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Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Shiraz 2016

Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Shiraz 2016

  14:30    Stu.

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Whilst it may lead with savoury influences - I initially suspected a minor whole bunch inclusion (there isn't, the fruit is hand harvested and de-stemmed into 2T open fermenters - you ultimately cannot escape the quality of the fruit on offer.  There are hints...

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Rock of Wisdom Mataro 2016

Rock of Wisdom Mataro 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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When I was a wee lad, my dear late mother loved a bit of Cadbury's Fruit n Nut. Now, I'm not for a minute suggesting that this smells like a bar of Cadbury's, but it sure does carry this heavenly mix of Mataro's classic plummy depths married to this nutty/ raw peanut/...

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Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2015

Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2015

  15:00    Stu.

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Serious intent from aromatics: oak with choc-mint lavishness.  Deep, dark and bitter - a full on, not quite full-throttle manifestation of Shiraz. Nudging more the 15% by taste. Chocolate, blueberry, spice - delivering in spades. Reasonable finish, pulling up with...

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Shaw Vineyard Estate Shiraz 2014

Shaw Vineyard Estate Shiraz 2014

  12:39    Stu.

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Looks a bit like this, but more 2014ey Canberran Shiraz often imparts this peanut husk/ nutty lead for me, an aroma that sits over the top of dusky, cool fruit. No exception, the savoury adding a foil to the fruit, a little mintiness almost like a seasoning.  Doesn't...

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Katnook Founders Block Shiraz 2015

Katnook Founders Block Shiraz 2015

  14:30    Stu.

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Short and succinct, but like this tasting note. Fudgey, berry, oaky Shiraz. Not what I think of as Coonawarra, but it lends the impression of a well made sub-$20 wine Medium bodied, more than a hint of cassis sweetness, not excessively jammy - perhaps more a conserve....

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McNicol Riesling 2009

McNicol Riesling 2009

  09:56    Stu.

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Beautiful Clare Riesling where the winemaker has done the work of cellaring for you.  Clearly a Riesling with a bit of age on it, has a whiff of kero/ gun oil with the unmistakable citrus tinges of preserved lemons.  With 8 years there's still a freshness...

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Riesling Revival

Riesling Revival

  20:45    Stu.

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Image stolen from the Internet Pressing the "pause" button on the blog has given me some much needed time to take stock, to think about why I chose to pontificate about wine in the first place. To think what it is about wine that still gets me excited. For wine to be...

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The Battle for Wine and Love.....

The Battle for Wine and Love.....

  10:39    Stu.

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Except, I don't claim to have saved the world from Parkerization. You see, I've been challenged by wine a lot of late. I'm not going to go as far to say we've fallen out, it's just that, well maybe our relationship changed for a bit. "Love changes, changes everything Love makes you fly it can break your wings" ~ Climie Fisher, Love Changes Everything The relationship we have with our Muses...

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Mitchell Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Mitchell Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

  13:35    Stu.

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Released as a 8yo, from an interesting vintage: New Year heatwave caused some issues and arrested development. But, a vintage from which a classic Clare Cabernet has been produced. Still fresh in the face of that age, carrying more of the Clare mintiness than perhaps...

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