February 2018 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Topper's Mountain Wild Ferment Tempranillo 2012

14:30 Stu.

Released as a 5yo, opens with a little funk, not reductive, more like briary stem and Sapid notes. Somewhat surprising for a 5yo, and there's still a degree of primacy about proceedings. Cherry, almond paste, maybe a wholemeal toast suggestion. Fine, powdery tannin...

2012 / New England / Tempranillo

Matriarch & Rogue Rex Wild Riesling 2017

08:30 Stu.

Seems appropriate that in the last throes of Summer there's still a bit of Riesling action happening. And boy what what a Riesling it is, Clare Valley Riesling on steroids. The lime is strong in this one: citrus, green apple a-plenty. Marnie Roberts: Chief Winemaker...

2017 / Clare Valley / riesling

Tuesday, 27 February 2018

Jacobs Creek Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

14:30 Stu.

Good burst of cassis on opening, seems to fade pretty quickly, giving way to a weedy form with some cedar hints backing up. Good mid-weight feel, sits comfortably, fine tannin adding substance. Fades quickly - way around that is to consume in a speedy manner....

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / South East Australia

Mitchell Peppertree Vineyard Shiraz 2013

08:30 Stu.

A wine that has fresh appeal, cherry and red currant with oak and seasoning rounding out the profile and becoming the dominant form, taking on a meatier manifestation. Clare reds tend to offer a lighter expression, this no exception. Tannin is cocoa fine and the...

2013 / Clare Valley / Shiraz

Monday, 26 February 2018

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2016

08:30 Stu.

Carries such an exquisite perfume, this doesn't need to be consumed to derive satisfaction, that alone can come from taking in its seduction through the olfactory organ. Such Pinosity. An impressive mix of plummy black fruit, a suggestion of caramel oak - just...

2016 / Fleurieu Peninsula / pinot noir

Sunday, 25 February 2018

Ferngrove Frankland River Shiraz 2015

14:30 Stu.

Give it some air is my recommendation, the '15 releases have shown reductive characters. Slowly it gives glimpses of the bright and fresh fruit within, but it is certainly showing it's reductive side here. Tannin is nicely composed, a grip that yields to little....

2015 / Frankland River / Great Southern / Shiraz

La La Land Malbec 2016

08:30 Stu.

"Deep and divine, rich and robust; madman or poet, Malbec is a must" Black Cherry for sure, a little vanilla, even mocha in the mix. It strikes this pose between laid back and self-assured. Certainly inviting. Palate so-so, it's mid-weight, just, juicy and rather...

2016 / Malbec / Victoria

Saturday, 24 February 2018

Mr Mick Novo Sangiovese Malbec 2106

14:30 Stu.

The back label states: "a great match to classic Italian cuisine". I don't think we need be as restrictive as that. I might suggest, paraphrasing Lily Bollinger, that you drink it when happy, or sad; when with company or alone. It is the style of wine that I can only...

2016 / Clare Valley / Malbec / sangiovese

Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2004

08:30 Stu.

At 13, it pours that slightly brickish colour around its edges, dull - the lustre of youth fading. At its heart, an inky black mass yet to yield to age. Secondary flavours are starting to emerge: earth, meets old wood, dark chocolate - and yet a primacy still...

2004 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Friday, 23 February 2018

Mr Mick Vermentino 2017

14:30 Stu.

Green, fleshy, pear and rockmelon; snow pea tendril. The palate offers a mix of a hint of fruit sweetness juxtaposed against a flash of acidity. Offers more fleshiness, a modicum of shape, with flow. Refreshment and value plus. 88 Tasted on: Wednesday 21st February,...

2017 / Clare Valley / Vermentino

The Lane Block 3 Chardonnay 2016

08:30 Stu.

Released at the end of January and the Sold Out sign is up already, ex-winery. Stonefruit and kernel from the get-go; delightful mix of citrus, supplemented with a tickle of slice: white pepper and ginger in the main. A creaminess that's delivered via...

2016 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay

Thursday, 22 February 2018

Gartelmann Sarah Elizabeth Chardonnay 2016

14:30 Stu.

Powerful, creamy Chardonnay, barrel fermentation and a mix of oak has left its mark. Has that golden, wheaten, flax like air and aura about it. It's quite lavish, with a well textured palate. Not just about feel, it offers creamy citrus and grilled peach....

2016 / Chardonnay / Orange

Mitchell Harris Sabre 2013

08:30 Stu.

A fine release of this sparkling from the Pyrenees in Victoria. A mere 5g/l dosage (dry) and spending some 40 months on lees. Opens with aromas of quince and baked apple. The palate is really where the magic happens. Carries a finesse, a genetic mineral rasp that...

2013 / Chardonnay / pinot noir / Pyrenees / Sparkling

Wednesday, 21 February 2018

Heggies Chardonnay 2015

14:30 Stu.

Pear over a lemon barley freshness. Barest hint of stonefruit, but it's about the approachability and primacy of pitch. A little steely edge provides a platform for the fruit to carry along on, the pear drop flavour holding its line well. Good drinking. 89 Tasted...

2015 / Chardonnay / Eden Valley

Terre à Terre Crayeres Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

08:30 Stu.

Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (95%), with a small touch of Cabernet Franc (5%) from South Australia's Wrattonbully region. It's a 'Reserve' release, seeing a touch more new oak than the Cabernet from the same vintage/ vineyard reviewed here. Certainly the Cabernet...

2014 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Wrattonbully

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Millon Estate Eden Valley Merlot 2014

14:30 Stu.

Gamey, earthen, hints of mushroom, olive skin. Medium bodied, savoury, tannin profile is excellent, yet the wine is devoid of fruit. Suggestive of minor taint. Persistent 87 Tasted on: Thursday 12th May 2016: a Leaf day Source: Sample Price: $20 Alcohol:...

2014 / Eden Valley / Merlot

Rock of Wisdom Grenache 2016

08:30 Stu.

Top notes of fruit sit squarely, invitingly. It's a red berry conserve with aromatic spice accents. Wickedly medium bodied, there's an immediate onslaught of spice: pepper, suggestion of dutch licorice. Inherently savoury, a stark contrast to that aromatic opening....

2016 / Barossa Valley / grenache

Monday, 19 February 2018

Alkoomi Frankland River Riesling 2017

13:13 Stu.

Intense and complex aromatics here, something like bruised apple, with brown lime and musky hints adding an extra layer of depth. The palate shows a citrus acidity, lemon and lime in the main, a pithyness that adds layer of texture, in tandem with the freshness...

2017 / Frankland River / Great Southern / riesling

Sunday, 18 February 2018

Shaw Vineyard Estate Winemaker's Selection Riesling 2017

17:26 Stu.

Affordable and approachable Riesling from Canberra District's Shaw Vineyard Estate. Has a fancy new livery on the range, freshened up and also to distinguish it further from the Estate range a rung up the ladder. Opens with apple blossom florals, lime; peppery flecks...

2017 / Canberra District / riesling

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Angullong Shiraz 2015

14:30 Stu.

There's a smokey-char about the wine, redolent of winter air in cooler climes with the lingering whiff of smoke. It sits above a plum and Berry core. Quite the invitation. Mid-weight, clove and a little star anise here, fine-but firm-grain tannin that gently coats...

Topper's Mountain Wild Ferment Shiraz 2013

08:30 Stu.

Peanut brittle seems to come and go here, but at its heart is a core of red fruit over chocolate. Gives the impression it's sweet - from the intro - and there's a certain marriage of oak-meets-fruit-meets spice, the latter what whisks the wine away from a simply...

2013 / New England / Shiraz

Monday, 12 February 2018

Jacob's Creek Classic Cabernet Merlot 2016

15:30 Stu.

Comes across like a comforting hug, has a mix of ripe Berry fruit and a touch of chocolatey coziness. Cedary seasoning rounds out the profile. Classic Cabernet, perhaps not, comforting more so. Has a plushness on entry. Good easy going wine. 87 Tasted on: Wednesday 7th June, a Flower to Leaf day Source: Sample Price: $10 Alcohol: 13.9% Closure: Screwcap Website: Jacob's Creek Follow me:...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / South East Australia

Terre à Terre Summertown Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir 2016

12:10 Stu.

I struggled with this, for me it was not a "for now" release, and that was borne out by my thoughts. For the record, impressions here are over time, with the score (FWIW) an aggregate of how I saw the wine over time. You cannot escape the exotic perfume of the...

2106 / Adelaide Hills / pinot noir

Saturday, 10 February 2018

Deakin Estate Moscato 2016

14:30 Stu.

Moscato, for me, can never escape crushed candy and floral aromatics. Inescapably sweet, the candy element coming through on the palate. Cannot eschew the simplicity, appealing to a demographic, well, a fancier of the Moscato. Simple, sweet, low alcohol. If you love Moscato, you'll be happy. 86 Tasted on: Saturday 10th June, a Leaf to Fruit day Source: Sample Price:...

Andrew Seppelt Wines Serine Shiraz 2016

08:30 Stu.

Subtle black fruit on offer here, briary hints that allude to a pebbley minerality. Thinking more about dusky violets. Barossa Shiraz paired back. An initial subtlety deceives, giving way to a somewhat intense pepper and cloven spice palate. The magic here for...

2016 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Friday, 9 February 2018

Rymill The Yearling Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

14:30 Stu.

Offers up what seems a joyful, somewhat playful nose. Hints at its varietal composition: cedary, cassis, and a little blackcurrant to tease the senses. Yes it doesn’t come across as the classiest individual, it’s $15 I ask ya! Soft, pretty slurpy, some cedar/ piney...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Coonawarra

Rusden Ripper Creek Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

08:30 Stu.

The good ol' "Aussie Red", here, Pareto's favourite drop as an 80/20 blend. Rich, chocolatey, little hint of burnt caramel. Suggests a cuddly wine, an embrace. Choc-mocha, layers of black fruit sitting deep in the wine. Gentle rub of tannin, a suggestion of...

2015 / Barossa Valley / Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz

Thursday, 8 February 2018

Windowrie The Mill Merlot 2015

14:30 Stu.

Unusual, and out of sorts, release from Windowrie here. They so often get it right for me, yet here we've a wine smelling dusty, dried out, like from a warm vintage. It’s Merlot clocking in at 14% and smelling like it. Generic red, there’s warmth on the palate. Lacking...

d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2014

08:30 Stu.

Deep. Dense. It's quite a dark individual, glimpses of its damson like fruit as it lies in a deep slumber. Hints of oak, leather, cedar even poke their heads out as the whole starts to unravel. Take this beast unto your mouth, its chewy grippy tannin really making...

2014 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Rusden The Chookshed Zinfandel 2015

14:30 Stu.

I've long been a fan of Rusden's wines, personally and on these pages. Something didn't quite gel with the current releases. I paired this Zin with with Jamie Oliver's sausage pasta bake - totally overpowered the dish (recipe here if that way inclined: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/sausage-pasta-bake/). Oak...

2015 / Barossa Valley / Zinfandel

d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings GSM 2014

08:00 Stu.

d'Arenberg's upper echelon GSM blend (72/25/3% in that order). Distinctive air of McLaren Vale red fruited Grenache here. That's not to call it out as a fruity wine, rather it has that redcurrant and raspberry lead in, over an underlying earth - Ironstone even...

2014 / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Squid Jibbly Wines Malbec 2016

12:30 Stu.

Squid Jibbly is a brand you may not have heard of, essentially it's a few mates in various roles in and around the industry who had a little play with some fruit out of the Clare Valley and Langhorne Creek to produce this playful little number. Carries a...

2016 / Clare Valley / Langhorne Creek / Malbec

Terre á Terre Rosé 2016

08:30 Stu.

Pinot Noir (65%) and Chardonnay (35%) originally destined for sparkling base, made from the juice of pressings. Fermented in 3yo barrels, 225doz produced. Strawberries, a little cranberry, white pepper and perhaps even some fennel. Initially I thought I caught...

2016 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay / pinot noir

Monday, 5 February 2018

Robert Stein Riesling 2017

14:30 Stu.

On a day when Brisbane called a halt to its attempts at Winter, a fresh and citrus driven Rizza was just the ticket. Lemon, lemon/lime even with bath salt lift has the delight ticking the nasal cavity. Lemon, lemon barley, apple. Fresh and about you acidity that...

2017 / Mudgee / riesling

Tapanappa Merlot Cabernet Franc 2014

08:30 Stu.

Exotically perfumed, sandalwood and cedar, gentle muskiness, a hint of game, over violet and dusky black fruit. Medium bodied, powder-fine tannin, a gentle perky acidity. There's Plum and raspberry, carried and framed by acid and tannin. Slightly different...

2104 / Cabernet Franc / Merlot / Wrattonbully

Sunday, 4 February 2018

Azahara Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV Sparkling

17:41 Stu.

Predominantly Chardonnay (89%) with the balance of Pinot Noir. Banging bargain bubbles here. Don't come looking for the refinement of a Champagne, instead appreciate what you get for the dollar. Opens with wholemeal bread and malt notes with freshening citrus hints. The...

Chardonnay / Murray Darling / pinot noir / Sparkling

Saturday, 3 February 2018

Ferngrove Black Label Malbec 2016

14:30 Stu.

Long considered one of the pioneers of the variety, as a varietal at least. Impressive pedigree too. Opens dark, dusky - as you might expect - but instead it actually offers something rather approachable and good-natured, that's not a slight. Plummy, with...

2016 / Frankland River / Malbec

Robert Stein Shiraz 2014

08:30 Stu.

Jeez, Mudgee is offering the goods of late. Robert Stein seem in a good place. Plums meets dark berry fruit. More of the same on the palate plus a smattering of residual malty oak in the mix. Dark, rich, heady cocktail of flavours on offer. The back palate...

2014 / Mudgee / Shiraz

Friday, 2 February 2018

Alkoomi White Label Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017

14:30 Stu.

Lemongrass, lemon balm and grapefruit aromas. Zest and minerality, rock melon in the mix. In the main it's about the citrus, gentle acid ebbs and flows. Given its ask, it's quite a gentle wine - as ever the white label over-delivering on the QPR proposition. Perhaps...

2017 / Great Southern / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Ferngrove Black Label Dry Style Riesling 2017

08:30 Stu.

Very expressive, aromatic style of Riesling from Frankland River in WA's Great Southern. Unusually contains a small percentage of Gewurztraminer, all that is required to lend a musky hint over the top of a citrus core. Soft and somewhat pillow lying entry. Lemon...

2017 / Frankland River / riesling

Thursday, 1 February 2018

Heartland Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

14:30 Stu.

Fruit and toast, not necessarily the bombastic style of yore, but a rich-laden-substantive offering. Palate shows more of the same, with its medium to full ways, again the rich fruit with some toasty oak presence. Lingering and residual cloven spice from the latter...

2014 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek

Cook's Lot Allotment 1010 Shiraz 2016

08:30 Stu.

Pours a vibrant magenta, as though the fruit has been freshly crushed. Aromatically it doesn't fail to disappoint either, with fresh blackberry and Mulberry, wrapped up with a suggestion of smokey oak. Medium bodied, the fruit again mixing with the suggestion...

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