2018 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Sunday, 16 December 2018

Killerby Foundations Chardonnay 2017

16:30 Stu.

Killerby is owned by Ferngrove winery, and whereas the owner produces great wines down in Great Southern, Killerby is a Margaret River focussed producer with a cellar door in Wilyabrup on the prime Caves Road. Stonefruit, wafer oak, fig, somewhat delicate aromas - no...

2017 / Chardonnay / Margaret River

Pizzini Prosecco 2018

11:30 Stu.

Quince and bruised apple aromatics, melon, a hint of baked tart - rather slightly browning pastry. Delicate zip, fine minerality - unlike many Prosecco it has a gentle tickle of petillence rather than the aggressive and voluminous bubbles. Second taste, a line of...

2018 / Glera / King Valley / Prosecco

Shaw Vineyard Estate Winemakers Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

08:44 Stu.

Bright and vibrant intro, all blue fruit and leaf at its heart. There's a drying, dusty element sitting, lurking in the background. Smoothly medium bodied. The palate is a little off, the silken body somewhat offsetting it. Lacking a little in flavour - particularly...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Canberra District

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2016

16:30 Stu.

Rich, chocolatey, a malty edge framing the wine. Oak on display, handled somewhat sensitively. Unwilling to release the wine that it has nurtured through its formative years. A powerhouse, having a compelling presence: oak, spice - pepper in the main. Its...

2016 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Superfly Shiraz 2018

11:30 Stu.

Solid youthful Barossan Shiraz, in a very modern vogue. Caught something like a peanut brittle (?) aroma here, black fruit pastille, barest twist of black pepper. Fruits of the forest jam, medium bodied. Good freshness. Tannin and spice wrapped in a tandem...

2018 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Heartland Directors' Cut Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

07:30 Stu.

Compared with the Shiraz, this Cabernet conveys itself more varietal. It's tobacco, bay and chocolate - less of the immediate oak. More assured, medium veering to full bodied. Deep set black fruit, Mulberry and plum. The oak is evident here, robust, loses...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek

Tuesday, 11 December 2018

Ballycroft Small Berry Shiraz French Oak 2015

07:30 Stu.

Unusually gave this a good decant hour or two before opening. Remnants of toasty oak, deep and rich - honouring the Greenock terroir. Mulberry and plum, suggestion of aniseed. Palate is more of the same, rich and luscious. The fruit is present, lavish in its...

2015 / Barossa Valley / Greenock / Shiraz

Monday, 10 December 2018

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Cabernet Malbec 2015

19:54 Stu.

Not the best release, bretty, giving the appearance of raw and untreated wood. Palate-wise, it's a silken slip of a thing, pitched seasoning - cedar and black pepper, freshly milled. Black, briar fruit, violets. Tannin is fine, Just the issues with the aroma....

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Malbec / Pemberton

Sunday, 9 December 2018

Rock of Wisdom Grenache 2017

09:42 Stu.

The current trend towards making Grenache, in what I consider a less is more approach, is seemingly reaping dividends for the variety. Whilst that is anecdotal, at best, purely from a personal perspective the examples that cross the bench seem to allow the variety to shine...

2017 / Barossa Valley / grenache

Thursday, 6 December 2018

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Reserve 2015

16:30 Stu.

You could sense it coming. The increasing brand presence, confidence, and consistency. A premium release was surely always on the cards given the pedigree across the range and for quite some time now. Here, subtle black fruit and aniseed twists on offer. For me, the...

2015 / Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz

Tuck's Ridge Turramurra Chardonnay 2016

11:30 Stu.

It will be interesting to see where these wines are taken to, given the acquisition of the brand and vineyards by Montalto, and the intention for Grape tinkerer Simon Black to take on winemaking duties. For now, these 2016 releases under the Tuck's Ridge brand remain...

2016 / Chardonnay / Mornington Peninsula

d'Arenberg Stephanie The Gnome with Rose Tinted Spectacles 2018

07:30 Stu.

Perhaps Stephanie might like to get her eyes tested, pouring as much like a light red, than a Rosé. Berry accents on pour: strawberry, raspberry and a little toffee apple. Cherry adds a play on the palate, it's fruity - not sweet mind - playful, and has enough about...

2018 / Cinsualt / McLaren Vale / sangiovese / Shiraz

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

The Natural Wine Co. Shiraz 2018

18:21 Stu.

Their website could do with a little SEO. Fresh, raw, touch of blood and bone. There's fruit at the periphery, Mulberry and blackcurrant. There's violets, with spice - it's savoury, yeasty. Soft, plush, touch of iodine. It's an easy going 'soif' style red....

2018 / Central Ranges / Shiraz

Tuesday, 4 December 2018

Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2017

16:30 Stu.

Beautiful vanilla and creme French oak here. Sits over the top of some perfectly ripe stonefruit. Toasty, spicy oak greets you and runs long on the palate. A spine of precise acidity its focal point, as if guided by laser. That's probably best how to sum it...

2017 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay

St Hugo Shiraz 2015

11:30 Stu.

St Hugo's way, lead with the oak (and it's French, all 70% of it). It's a marker, a house style if you wish. Blackcurrant, Plum, the vanillin oak - there, again. Black. Fruit and sweet oak remnants, singular and solid. Whether that oak settles into itself remains...

2015 / Barossa / Shiraz

Margan Aged Release Semillon 2013

07:30 Stu.

Sitting there, reserved, the wine equivalent of arms and legs folded. Sullen. Hints, perhaps, of citrus and grass. Rock melon, maybe. The palate, livelier. There's a minerality, a tingle across the palate, a drying pucker. Freshening acidity - you get the impression...

2013 / Broke Fordwich / Hunter Valley / Semillon

Monday, 3 December 2018

Brand's Laira Blockers Chardonnay 2017

16:30 Stu.

Cannot immediately recall too many Coonawarra Chardonnay across the bench. Perhaps Katnook and Hollick being those prompt some instant recall. Here, Brand's Laira, part of the ever growing Casella stable, offers up a Chardonnay that's heavy set, oak and a creamy custard-vanilla...

2017 / Chardonnay / Coonawarra

Cook's Lot Cabernet Merlot 2016

12:52 Stu.

Cabernet in the cooler margins, with some assistance from old mate Merlot. Softer, almost mellifluous manner, yet tannins are somewhat firmer than that might suggest. It comes across as more like a milk chocolate, mocha, with cedar, mint and a touch of tobacco....

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Orange

Saturday, 1 December 2018

Shaw + Smith Shiraz 2016

16:48 Stu.

The unison of the earth and the flowers that grow in, spicey a hint of meatiness - whole bunch evident - combiner floral aspects: rose hip, hibiscus. Lighter touch on entry, a fine-grain of mouth coating, powdery tannin. Gives length, stature and volume. Freshening...

2016 / Adelaide Hills / Shiraz

Liv Zak Syrah 2016

11:30 Stu.

Liv Zak is a second label, of sorts, for COldstream (Yarra Valley) based Warramunda Estate. Brambley mix of fruit, spice, suggestion of whole bunch. Invitingly fresh and vibrant, fruit at its core with a savoury frame. Feels slick, polished, a veneer of glossy...

2016 / Shiraz / Syrah / Yarra Valley

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Shiraz 2015

07:30 Stu.

Deep and robust Shiraz from Silkwood Estate of Pemberton, in Western Australia's South-East. Plums, a meaty - almost gamey - edge, gives it a firm and deep profile. Hints of pencil shaving, cloven spice and pepper add to the depth and allure. Light and...

2015 / Pemberton / Shiraz / Western Australia

Friday, 30 November 2018

Robert Stein Riesling 2018

16:30 Stu.

Always look forward to the new releases of Robert Stein Riesling, often coming as a trio (Dry, Off-Dry and Sweet). In 2018 the Dry instance carries its calling card of lemon grass and kaffir lime. The palate a touch broader and softer than I recall, more rounded...

2018 / Mudgee / riesling

Pizzini King Valley Riesling 2018

11:30 Stu.

Sly and the Family Stone’s “It’s a Family Affair” was the ear worm that naturally sprang to mind as I checked my assumed history of the Pizinni family along with that of winemaking up in North-East Victoria’s King Valley. A region with a deep Italo-Australian heritage,...

2018 / King Valley / riesling

d'Arenberg The Dry Dam Riesling 2018

07:30 Stu.

Kaffir Lime, Granny Smith apple - skin and blossom - certainly a fragrant Riesling, and adding weight to previously aired thoughts on the quality of Riesling from the vintage. Exquisitely refreshing, piercing acidity, hints of a phenolic pinch. Latterly feels...

2018 / Adelaide Hills / riesling

Thursday, 29 November 2018

Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2016

16:30 Stu.

I sank into its welcome black-fruited embrace as I approached the end of a week long "holiday" keeping the kids entertained. Aniseed accents added aromatic seasoning to its fruitsome flesh. It's quite a simple approach: black fruit, a little oak seasoning and...

2016 / Langhorne Creek / Shiraz

Margan Chardonnay 2017

11:30 Stu.

Full on ripe Hunter Chardonnay, dripping with what seems like honeyed pear drops, positively oozing at that. It carries that 'golden', somewhat treacley feel, fancy oak in the mix too. Lavish, lush in a weighty manner - although it pulls up a little short. 88 Tasted...

2017 / Chardonnay / Hunter Valley

Bremerton Mollie & Merle Verdelho 2018

07:30 Stu.

Verdelho has a reputation as somewhat of a workhorse like variety, offering up a veritable fruit salad of aromas and flavours - this example from the Langhorne legends Bremerton no exception. Smells like a sweetened fruit juice, something like pineapple juice meets...

2018 / Langhorne Creek / Verdelho

Wednesday, 28 November 2018

Gartelmann Jesse Shiraz 2014

16:30 Stu.

Deep set black fruit with oak remnants sitting around. Slick and silken feel, black fruit sitting proud. Hints of aniseed, as if by a vein flowing through. Flow it does, has a nice balance, weight and energy for a wine just shy of 15%. Although it does feel...

2014 / Mudgee / Shiraz

Rymill gt Gewürztraminer 2018

11:30 Stu.

Exhibits all the hallmarks of Gewürztraminer, by way of the musk and rosewater. It's a lighter take mind, and no worse for it. A Minerally edge is really the defining aspect to the palate, faint musk and something like a lychee bent running through. Lightness...

2018 / Coonawarra / Gewürztraminer

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon 2017

07:30 Stu.

Softer aromatics, the citrus and grassiness are kind of given, that's followed up by a softer bent of tropical fruit - honeydew melon meets something like peach juice. The palate shows the softer tropical flow, with a steelier spine - as if to act as a guide. Unsure...

2017 / Mudgee / Semillon

Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Montalto Estate Teurong Block Chardonnay 2016

16:30 Stu.

Greenish hue in the glass, and seems to evoke a green response aromatically, yet is all dripping ripe stonefruit. At turns both fleshy, yet clipped and crisp. It evokes a somewhat fleshy and sensuous response. There's a citrus acidity running deep, both lime...

2016 / Chardonnay / Mornington Peninsula

Tim Adams Pinot Gris 2018

11:30 Stu.

Has the delightful kiss of the barest of skin contact, a pale golden/ translucent onion skin blush, that I like in a Gris. Don't serve too chilled, else you'll suppress the delicate aromatics: blossom, Nashi pear (AKA 'papples' as they're known.around these parts,...

2018 / Clare Valley / Pinot Gris

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Merlot 2016

07:30 Stu.

It's always with a fair degree of trepidation that I approach a Merlot sample. Do the viticulturist and winemaker understand understand the nuances of the variety in its chosen region? Or have they produced a generic dry red offering little varietal definition? Huntington Estate...

2016 / Merlot / Mudgee

Monday, 26 November 2018

Cook's Lot Pinot Gris 2018

16:30 Stu.

I've never really quite understood nougat (or 'nugget' as I referred to it in my youth), save for its writ large here and offers appeal. Canteloupe melon, pear segments - more mineral on the palate than many a Gris offers. Has a little texture, bringing with it hints of citrus and tropical elements that bolster the profile. Certainly stands out from the crowd with respect to other...

2018 / Orange / Pinot Gris

Angullong Fossil Hill Barbera 2017

12:52 Stu.

Barbera is not exactly a common variety here in Australia, and appears to fair well in some rather diverse regions. Here, Orange - and off a vineyard situated at 600-620 metres - shows the variety well in a cool climate - for Australia at least - guise. It's...

2017 / Barbera / Orange

Bremerton Tamblyn 2016

08:30 Stu.

Bordeaux with a little South Australia thrown in, being a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Shiraz, 12% Malbec and 7% Merlot. Sure packs in a bit for its $18, with Cabernet off the bat and providing the framework around which the rest hangs. Red berries with that lick...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek / Malbec / Merlot / Shiraz

Sunday, 25 November 2018

Lana Prosecco NV

17:18 Stu.

A subsidiary label for Pizzini, named after the town that bears the same name, located in the Trentino Alto-Adige region of North East Italy. Looking to showcase more old world techniques. Light bead, sitting pretty and golden in glass. Apple skins, pear, yeasty autolysis and...

Glera / King Valley / NV / Prosecco / Sparkling

Saturday, 24 November 2018

Castle Rock Estate Porongurup Riesling 2018

11:57 Stu.

Wonderfully fragrant Riesling from Western Australia's Great Southern. It's all lemongrass and kaffir lime, from aromatics alone I was expecting a tropical fruit sorbet of sorts. It's bracing, with a fine acidic crunch and spread across the palate, all lime juice...

2018 / Great Southern / Porongurup / riesling

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