March 2018 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Yelland and Papps Second Take Roussanne 2017

14:30 Stu.

Next level Roussanne. More than a Second Take, now firmly established in the Australian winemaking scene, an increasingly colourful landscape where the rule book isn’t even considered and the winemaker instead turns to a bag of tricks and techniques to extract a different...

2017 / Barossa Valley / Roussanne

Friday, 23 March 2018

d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie 2013

14:30 Stu.

Still scratch the ol' noggin that this $29 wine is released as a 5y old and yet the premium icons ($70) are released at 3. Anyway, primarily Shirazzle (94%) with a little Vajazzle (6%). Tell-tale vibrancy in glass, the Viognier doing its thing visually and aromatically....

2013 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon 2016

08:54 Stu.

It's labelled a Special Reserve and is produced from free run juice only. Sees a bit of extended bottle time too, all that said it’s a fairly approachable price given what some ‘standard’ Semillon go for. A: Citrus and grassy hints in the main, there’s a suggestion...

2016 / Mudgee / Semillon

Thursday, 22 March 2018

Robert Stein Mudgee Reserve Chardonnay 2016

14:30 Stu.

Peachy funk. Fair bit of work on this one, complex aromas of exquisitely handled oak over meal, almond and that stonefruit. Creamy initially, stonefruit and supplemented with citrus before an altogether rather sudden flinty aspect. It's as though the wine was in a hurry...

2016 / Chardonnay / Mudgee

Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2016

08:30 Stu.

The Tiers vineyard is an impressive sight to behold as you stand looking at it with the winery behind you. It's gently rising slope gives away little from afar as to the history and pedigree of the site. The pedigree is evident in the glass. From the off there's...

2016 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Gartelmann Benjamin Semillon 2017

14:41 Stu.

Lemon sherbet lollies, lemongrass; fresh, fragrant and a suggestion of florals in the mix too. Has the sharpness of fresh lemon, like sucking on one (minus the pips, thankfully). Fresh, racy, zippy - fair cracks on through the palate at a rate of knots. Alright length,...

2017 / Hunter Valley / Semillon

Yelland and Papps Second Take Vermentino 2017

08:30 Stu.

Spends a whopping 271 days on its skins, to put that into context, ordinarily a white wine might spend 2-3 hours on skins, a Rosé something up to 24 hours (for a little colour extraction) and a red wine, anything between 8-20 days (dependent on how much colour, flavour,...

2017 / Barossa Valley / Vermentino

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Juniper Crossing Chardonnay 2017

14:30 Stu.

Classic regional Chardonnay, stone fruit a-plenty here with some oak derived spice bringing up the rear. There’s not as much definition on the palate as the Estate offering (link), yet the wine does not want for more stone fruit and spiced hints. It’s crisp and clip,...

2017 / Chardonnay / Margaret River

d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings 2015

08:30 Stu.

Chester's lovechild (Grenache, 48%), blended up with Shiraz (47%) and some Mataro (5%) providing some bass to the signature and rhythm. It's deep on the nose, as deep as the Vale soils from whence it was hewn. It's all raspberry, hibiscus with some redcurrant in the mix....

2015 / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Monday, 19 March 2018

Yelland and Papps Second Take Grenache 2017

14:30 Stu.

Always hotly anticipated across the Vinsomniac tasting bench*, still remarkable value at $40 - a price it has held since the 2013s were first released (this marking the ranges 5th release by my shoddy maths). Sees a fair whack of whole bunch (64%), not that you'd really...

2017 / Barossa Valley / grenache

Ferngrove Independence Pinot Noir Rosé 2017

08:30 Stu.

Smart new packaging from the Ferngrove crew. Colour on this wine is interesting, it's nowhere near as Fuchsia pink as the image to the right suggests, more like onion skin in bottle. Pretty aromatics, all rose and strawberry wafting out here. Has that creaminess too,...

2017 / Frankland River / Great Southern / pinot noir / Rosé

Sunday, 18 March 2018

Mr Mick Cabernet Merlot 2014

14:30 Stu.

Jeez, cracker on the aromatics here. What you want in a youthful, fruitful Cab blend: Plum, cassis, throw in a little violet and a suggestion of mint. Medium bodied, the playful fruit and mint make themselves known again, kind of an easy going languid vibe to this....

2014 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Clare Valley / Merlot

Yelland and Papps Vermentino 2017

08:30 Stu.

From one of the early producers of the variety, grapes are hitting their late teens now, planted in the early noughties. Opens with what appears to be a little smokey, burnt citrus - it's fleeting, before the fresh citrus show launches itself onto your olfactory organ and bursts forth. It's the palate where the real magic happens. It's a riot of citrus, backed up with suggestions of Meyer...

2017 / Barossa Valley / Vermentino

Saturday, 17 March 2018

Juniper Estate Crossing Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017

14:30 Stu.

Juniper Estate started life as “Wright’s” back in 1973, one of the early pioneers of what we consider the Margaret River region. Juniper Estate is centred around the premium producing sub-region of Wilyabrup and Crossing is its second tier of wines, after the Estate range. Interestingly,...

2017 / Margaret River / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Mitchell Watervale Riesling 2017

08:30 Stu.

2017 was a mixed vintage, cooler and thus later. Summer rains, warmth and humidity all posed their challenges. A vintage for the assured winemaker, and with something approaching 40 vintages under its belt, the Mitchell Riesling exhibits the hallmarks of the variety and...

2017 / Clare Valley / riesling / Watervale

Friday, 16 March 2018

Matriarch & Rogue Mary Tempranillo 2016

14:13 Stu.

Plum and morello cherry vibe going on. Has fruit at the fore, a suggestion of tart blueberry too, vanilla in the mix too. The palate carries that line of fruit, initially, before segueing to the subtle savoury elements. Residual oak remnants, akin to leaf matter and...

2016 / Clare Valley / Tempranillo

Pig in the House Chardonnay 2017

08:30 Stu.

Pretty pure Chardonnay on offer here, less of the artifice, more of the varietal expression. It’s all about stone fruit singing and humming its tune, supplemented with a suggestion of limey citrus. Clean, classic lines on the palate too. There’s a little spice that...

#Organic / 2017 / Chardonnay / Cowra

Thursday, 15 March 2018

Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling 2017

14:30 Stu.

Lime, brown lime juice, strong citrus aromatics. Delightful balance, the (barely, for it's only 10g residual sugar) medium dry sweetness nicely offsetting, or rather working with, the acidity within. It's got power and drive, yet retaining enough delicacy to remain...

2017 / riesling

Cape Jaffa Mesmer Eyes White and Red blend 2016

08:30 Stu.

Either my eyes deceive, or this wine - made of both red and white grape varieties - clocks in at 15% alcohol! Curious aromatics, has that musky, rose and bergamot scent I so often see (seek?) in skin contact wines. It's lavish, thickly textured, berry driven...

2016 / Gewürztraminer / Limestone Coast

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Alkoomi White Label Shiraz 2016

16:00 Stu.

Bit of smokey reduction - meets chocolate, wafer oak. Nicely layered, more than a fair whiff of the spice grinder. Plummy depths, spice, flash of acid for freshness. Powder fine tannin. Faint hint of licorice like bitterness on the finish, a contrast as opposed...

2016 / Great Southern / Shiraz

Matriarch & Rogue Dot Riesling 2017

08:30 Stu.

Classic Clare Riesling, the ying to Rex's yang. Down the line with lime on the profile. The palate has more of the explosive citrus, lemon and lime with sherbet giving expression on the palate. More the laser focussed Riesling, a guidewire of acidity off which the classic...

2017 / Clare Valley / riesling / Watervale

Monday, 12 March 2018

De Bortoli Deen Vat Series No 8 Shiraz 2014

14:30 Stu.

Touch of blackcurrant pastille about this, black fruit for sure - if perhaps not much else. Simple, no-nonsense, crowd pleaser for sure. It's ripe and has a creaminess to it, fruity to boot. For the bucks this just delivers, if not the most complex offering. 87 Tasted...

2014 / Riverland / Shiraz

Patina Riesling 2016

08:30 Stu.

As some 2018 Rieslings won't be too far off the market, this 2016 from Patina in Orange is just released. Winemaker Gerald Naef is a bit of a self-confessed Riesling nut: "I consider it my mission in life to get people drinking Riesling again, so I have escalated...

2016 / Orange / riesling

Sunday, 11 March 2018

Gartelmann Wilhelm Hunter Valley Shiraz 2015

18:40 Stu.

Depth of black fruit presenting itself here, segues to more of an earthen character, freshly tilled sods. Liquorice, residual oak, coffee-mocha. The fruit presence sits square on the palate too. Renders as a medium bodied style, somewhat juicy. Acid still present, less...

2015 / Hunter Valley / Shiraz

Saturday, 10 March 2018

Terlan Lagrein Rosé 2015

15:00 Stu.

From Italy's Alto-Adige (one of the coolest sounding region names IMO), imported by Arquila. Of a light and juicy Berry aroma, fresh and clean. Possesses a depth, chewy on entry, roll it around the palate and succumb to its depth and intensity of flavour. Fruit,...

Alto-Adige / Italy / Lagrein / Rosé

Thorn-Clarke St Kitts Vineyard Malbec 2008

10:41 Stu.

The Plum and black fruit aromatic depths are married to oak, still prominent at ten years. Fruit is subsiding on the palate, spice and tannins are more prominent. Past its best, it's all a bit angular and hollow, the stuffing knocked out if it. That...

2008 / Barossa Valley / Malbec

Friday, 9 March 2018

Matriarch & Rogue Maurie Clare Valley Vermentino 2017

14:30 Stu.

Very expressive take on Vermentino here from the Clare Valley. It’s all lime, florals and a smattering of what comes across like blackcurrant leaf and even hints of passionfruit. Dunno, perhaps i’d tasted too many Sauvignon Blanc before it! It’s certainly fresh, expressive...

2017 / Clare Valley / Vermentino

Barossa Boy Wines Double Trouble Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

08:30 Stu.

Double trouble indeed. These two scally-wags, the kings of the region have been throwing their weight around for some time now. Deep, earthen, fudgey aromatics ooze their way out of the glass. It's almost like you can sense the muddy, fudgey mass that sloshes its way around. Slick...

2106 / Barossa Valley / Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz

Main Ridge Pinot Meunier 2012

08:30 Stu.

2016 bottle image Pours a light, matte garnet; translucent, nothing to hide and plenty to enjoy. Still retaining fruit, primarily. It redolent of slightly under-ripe raspberry, perhaps a little mint and assorted spice in the mix. Even at 6 it is still...

2012 / Mornington Peninsula / Pinot Meunier

Thursday, 8 March 2018

De Bortoli Down The Lane Shiraz Tempranillo 2015

14:30 Stu.

Spanish inspired label, Pamplona meets Verona. Rubbery, bit of reduction, meaty - funk and fugue. Similar vein on the palate: juice and funk, gummy, resiny, fermenting meats. Primary and raw, cherries - calls for charcuterie, even olives. Joyous, share...

2015 / Riverina / Shiraz / Tempranillo

Yelland & Papps Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

08:30 Stu.

Deep, rich, strong - it certainly manifests itself as a fuller bodied version of Cabernet based on its aromatic introduction. Blackcurrant, plummy character; there's a certain sheen and polish to it. It suggests more new oak treatment than its 18m in seasoned oak, the slickness,...

2016 / Barossa Valley / Cabernet Sauvignon

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

Giant Steps LDR Shiraz Pinot 2017

14:30 Stu.

Expressive mix of damsony fruit, tartness of cherry, smokey, reductive, savoury elements of earth. It certainly lives up to its LDR (Light Dry Red) billing, having the faintest of touches. It’s a blend of Pinot Noir (51%) from the famed Primavera...

2017 / pinot noir / Syrah / Yarra Valley

Wirra Wirra The Lost Watch Riesling 2017

08:30 Stu.

A tang, an almost sour and tart impression against a like and herb lift. Freshness personified. Beautiful acid that awakens the palate. A lemon, lime balance. There's a little phenolic edge to proceedings - adding an extra to the palate. Good release. 91 Tasted...

2017 / Adelaide Hills / riesling

Tuesday, 6 March 2018

De Bortoli La Bossa Merlot 2016

14:30 Stu.

Smells like a solid, jammy red - a generous wine, pencil shavings and a smattering of vanilla. Solid start. Palate not so sharp. A bitterness pervades, as opposed to the fruit one might expect given the aromatics. Ripeness understood given the level of stated...

2106 / Merlot / Riverina

Woodlands 'Margaret' 2007

08:30 Stu.

Beautifully poised blend of 67% Cabernet, 17% Merlot, 16% Malbec that spent 18m in French oak (2/3 new, balance 1yo), looking sharp at ten years of age. Classic nose of a maturing Cabernet blend. Balancing residual freshness with gum, hints of pencil shaving, cassis....

2007 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Malbec / Margaret River / Merlot

Monday, 5 March 2018

Angullong Chardonnay 2016

16:30 Stu.

Fairly simple in its approach, yet it delivers a satisfactory experience in its simplicity. Primarily about citrus in both aroma and form. There's enough about the palate to satisfy, enough flesh about the bones, so to speak, a spine of acidic drive. Not...

2016 / Chardonnay / Orange

Windowrie The Mill Chardonnay 2016

12:30 Stu.

Stonefruit and kernel imbued with a subtle citrus and seasoning from some time under wood. More of the same on the palate, a pronounced acidity that gives some drive and a little substance. It does feel like it's wanting for more, yet its freshness gives it some...

2016 / Chardonnay / Cowra

Huntington Estate Barrel Ferment Chardonnay 2016

08:30 Stu.

Classic Chardonnay in a good place. Oozing Stonefruit, with that golden wheat, cashew profile. The barrel Ferment gives that fuller profile in the mouth, aiding width to the acid derived length. There's toast, a creaminess to proceedings, a resurrection of the...

2016 / Chardonnay / Mudgee

Sunday, 4 March 2018

The Lane Vineyard Block 10 Sauvignon Blanc 2017

14:30 Stu.

Classic Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc. Gentle herbal, grass and citrus aromas that convey their origin. Hints of lime, more than lemon, suggestions of blackcurrant leaf and passionfruit. Palate carries the acid, taught and lean, buoyed by a little carry of the fruit....

2017 / Adelaide Hills / Sauvignon Blanc

Margan Aged Release Semillon 2012

12:30 Stu.

Sem game is strong here, a deep oily citrus, preserved lemon, comes across as waxy, initially, for it opens up revealing remnants of herb and grass, long from youth. Naturally with an aged release - and don't we all - it has fleshed out a little. Gone the Verve...

2012 / Hunter Valley / Semillon

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