April 2018 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Sunday, 29 April 2018

Matriarch and Rogue Alice Shiraz 2016

14:30 Stu.

Evocative floral perfume here, lavender and violets over Plum and and blue fruit aspects. Chinese five spice adds another element, depth and intrigue. Medium bodied, fine and sandy tannin - certainly a wine of elegance on first glance. There's an element of something...

2016 / Clare Valley / Shiraz

Alkoomi Black Label Shiraz Viognier 2016

08:30 Stu.

Smokey, Plummy, biscuity, nutty. Exudes a cool and dark presence, feels tight and somewhat shy. There's black Cherry at its heart, a tail of licorice and a good rub of gravelly tannin. Good going, a cool wine from a cool region. 89 Tasted on: Tuesday 3rd...

2016 / Frankland River / Shiraz / Viognier

Saturday, 28 April 2018

Angullong Fossil Hill Barbera 2016

14:30 Stu.

"De-stemmed with 20 percent left as whole berries for fermentation in order to create complexity and silkier tannins. It was matured in French oak puncheons (20% new) for 12 months. The hallmark of Barbera being its natural acidity". Meaty and savoury, on...

2016 / Barbera / Orange

Heartland First Release Malbec 2016

07:22 Stu.

Despite the name, this is actually the second release of the wine from Heartland. Six Barrels, 100% Malbec, all new French oak Shy initially, taking its own sweet time to begin to unfurl. It's 100% Malbec from Langhorne Creek and it's home prior to bottling was 100%...

2016 / Langhorne Creek / Malbec

Thursday, 26 April 2018

d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2015

08:30 Stu.

Dead Arm, d'Arenberg and McLaren Vale. Each integral to the other. Rich, a touch figgy, heady and a mix of dark black fruit that emanates from glass. Black fruits, sweeter accents on entry, tannin that resolves to something fine and yet gravelly. Black olive,...

2015 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

d'Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

16:40 Stu.

Eighteen bucks and delivers in spades, the blackcurrant truck was well and truly backed up for this release, repeatedly. Primarily fruit driven, latent savoury hints sit in the background: black olive, tomato leaf and herb. Fresh, tangy with acidity in tune with...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Saturday, 21 April 2018

Ferngrove Off-Dry Riesling 2017

14:30 Stu.

Ooh, this one's a goer, more of the tropical mien to it - think something like a mandarin and lime marmalade, a little cumquat for good measure. The aroma carries more of that subtle minerality that you might suspect betrays a sweetness within. More of that limey...

#RieslingRevival / 2017 / Frankland River / Great Southern / Off-Dry / riesling

Patina Scandalous Riesling 2016

08:30 Stu.

Not quite sure what the scandal is here, a Riesling with higher levels of sugar can be one of life's great pleasures. Perhaps the scandal is that the drinking masses are not aware of this ("It may be false, it may be true; but nothing has been proved"). So, about...

2016 / Central West NSW / riesling

Friday, 20 April 2018

d'Arenberg Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

14:30 Stu.

This 2015 release was polarising. Day 1 it was sullen and the body inconsistent. A day later it was a different beast, rewarding the patient. Salt bush, bay, blackcurrant lurks in the background, with damson. There's cedar wood offering a delightful seasoning over a...

2015 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wirra Wirra Church Block 2016

08:30 Stu.

Church Block smelling mighty fine, for all its intoxicating mix of Cabernet and Shiraz (plus a dollop of Merlot for good measure). It carries the plummy/damson/Mulberry signature with a generous carry of chocolate and damp earth. Simply good to go now, the fruit well...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale / Merlot / Shiraz

Thursday, 19 April 2018

Angullong Fossil Hill Tempranillo 2016

14:30 Stu.

Hints of dough and balsa-wood. Seasoning and shavings of cedary oak. Fuller, powdery fine tannin, glimpses of black fruit before an astringent bitterness towards the back palate. Cocoa powder, blue fruit glimpses. Finish moderate. Questionable. Surprising....

2016 / Orange / Tempranillo

Katnook Estate Shiraz 2015

08:30 Stu.

Not the first variety that springs to mind when you think of Coonawarra, but then Katnook have always seemed to have a handle on the variety. Dried earth, meets cedary oak - comes across as dry and dusty, a little like the Coonawarra soils. Cassis/blackcurrant,...

2015 / Coonawarra / Shiraz

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2014

19:19 Stu.

Serious intent here: solid presence of oak and black fruit. A little coffee and malted presence adds a sweeter accent. Black fruit to its very core, the fruit presence is intense, and yet well balanced. The tannin is (surprisingly) subtle, well integrated, the oak providing...

2014 / Langhorne Creek / Shiraz

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Mitchell Grenach Mataro Shiraz 2014

14:30 Stu.

Red fruit - cranberry and raspberry; subtle herb, residual oak elements. Nicely rounded entry, soft and almost chewy. Delicacy and softness, fine-grain of tannin. Red/black fruit mix sits comfortably throughout the wine, sitting well on the finish. There's...

2014 / Clare Valley / grenache / Mataro / Shiraz

Flaxman Wines Eden Valley Riesling 2016

08:30 Stu.

Dry grown, 200 doz made. Comes in the regional-proprietary EV bottle. Long overdue look at a Riesling purchased just under a year ago. Oh my, on aroma alone this is a winner. It’s pristine, all aromatic green apple, hints of lime and lemongrass, elements of bath...

#RieslingRevival / 2016 / Eden Valley / riesling

Monday, 16 April 2018

Huntington Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2017

18:50 Stu.

Spends some time sur lie - eight months - and that lends the wine some width and weight through the middle. Citrus and stonefruit are the aromatic hallmarks of the wine - the regional calling card for the variety. There's a sufficient vein of acidity about which...

2017 / Chardonnay / Mudgee

Tuesday, 10 April 2018

Barossa Boy Young Wisdom Mataro 2016

15:30 Stu.

Deep, dark, soulful - more in the way of tobacco, and dark wood. Lighter elements, light to the shade, something more floral - lavender and violets. Soft, almost chewy intro before the onset of dark spice that penetrates the very corners of your oral cavity. Fine...

#ProjectMataro / 2016 / Barossa Valley / Mataro et al

Yelland and Papps Second Take Mataro 2017

08:30 Stu.

The numbers: 67% whole bunch, 14d on skins; 100% French Oak, of which 17% new. More of the whole bunch aromatics shining through on initial approach, with the underlying plum and heady dark spice of the variety. Freshness and vitality - could almost be the Y&P/...

#ProjectMataro / 2017 / Barossa Valley / Mataro et al

Monday, 9 April 2018

Toppers Mountain Tannat Wild Ferment 2013

16:00 Stu.

Bit of funk and meatiness to this one on opening, with chocolate bullets and herbal, undergrowth notes on the nose. Medium to full bodied, but it's superbly balanced and rather fine - particularly given its just under 16% alcohol. Delightfully fine tannin, berry and...

2013 / New England / Tannat

Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

08:30 Stu.

It's primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (90%, small additions of Cabernet Franc 5%, Malbec 2%, Merlot 2% and Petit Verdot) making up the balance. Beautiful aromatic offering, it's all cedar and black fruit, set to seasoned oak just framing it so. It's cool in its manifestation,...

2013 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Margaret River

Sunday, 8 April 2018

Ferngrove Independence Pinot Noir [with a touch of oomph!] 2017

14:30 Stu.

Rather bold aromatics on this Pinot Noir from WA's Great Southern region, more black than red fruit - plummy, with herbal inflections. Medium bodied, juice laden palate with fine silken tannins. Black fruit, licorice, dark in its presentation. Got a decent length on...

2017 / Great Southern / pinot noir

Juniper Crossing Shiraz 2016

10:02 Stu.

Curiously meaty, savoury - kinda like fermenting sausage - intertwined with deep setblack fruit. Makes for a complex - and sometimes confronting - mix and mass of aromas. There's a latent toastiness from the oak, which is a mix of formats (225, 300 & 500 litre formats,...

2016 / Margaret River / Shiraz

Saturday, 7 April 2018

Ferngrove White Label Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017

14:30 Stu.

Light on flavour and aromatics this time out. There's some faint kiwi fruit and citrus and even a suggestion of green melon. There's a little zesty liveliness about the palate, a tingle and jingle of acidity that pricks across the tongue. That's really what the bulk...

2017 / Frankland River / Great Southern / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Katnook Founder's Block Sauvignon Blanc 2017

08:30 Stu.

There's no making mistaking the grape variety in this glass, it's all gooseberry and herb, subtle tropical inflections sit lingering in the background. Packs a punch on the palate with an intensity and focus: mineral tinged, acid flecked, supplemented by the topical...

2017 / Coonawarra / Sauvignon Blanc

Friday, 6 April 2018

Robert Stein SRG Semillon Riesling Gewürztraminer 2017

14:30 Stu.

Interesting wine this, and I must say I do like the cut of this winery's gib. Regional standards, plus exploring the envelope - keeping themselves interested along a bit of customer intrigue. This blend of Semillon, Riesling and Gewürztraminer sees a bit of extended...

2017 / Gewürztraminer / Mudgee / riesling / Semillon

Yelland and Papps Second Take Shiraz 2017

08:30 Stu.

The numbers: 73% whole bunch, 14d on skins; 100% French oak, 28% new. Cracking aromatic mix of fruit, the bunch elements singing and adding their touch, hints of licorice root and all up it comes across as this cola-like presentation in glass. Deliciously...

2017 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Thursday, 5 April 2018

Ferngrove Independence Pinot Noir 2017

14:30 Stu.

Rather bold aromatics on this Pinot Noir from WA's Great Southern region, more black than red fruit - Plummy, with herbal inflections. Medium bodied, juice laden palate with fine silken tannins. Black fruit, licorice, dark in its presentation. Got a decent length...

2017 / Great Southern / pinot noir

d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2016

08:30 Stu.

You can still find some consistent performers in the classic Australian mould. Regional and of its variety, it's a wine that also can cellar well. Throws what you seek in a robust Vale Shiraz: raspberry, - bright and red - a little blackberry and fresh...

2106 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

Wirra Wirra 12th Man Chardonnay 2017

14:30 Stu.

Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills (Lobethal and Lenswood from memory). Love the consistency of this wine, strong on the stonefruit and its marriage to some meal and spicy oak. Good citrus driven palate and acidity, tangy and juicy with fruit supplementing and...

2017 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay

Ferngrove White Label Rosé 2017

08:30 Stu.

Brand and packaging update from Ferngrove. What was formerly the 'Origins' range has become the White Label range, bringing it more in line with the remainder of the Portfolio. Wild strawberry, red currant and cranberry - dryish fruit, not the sweet and succulent....

2017 / Great Southern / pinot noir / Rosé

Tuesday, 3 April 2018

Robert Stein Shiraz Nouveau 2017

14:04 Stu.

The inaugural Shiraz Nouveau grapes were handpicked with 30 per cent whole bunch and 70 per cent whole berry fermentation in small, open fermenters. A cold and carbonic maceration prior to fermentation allowed soft extraction of the flavours without exposing...

2017 / Mudgee / Shiraz

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