November 2018 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

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

Saturday, 3 November 2018

Angullong Fossil Hill Sangiovese 2017

12:11 Stu.

Captivating perfume, not quite able to place my finger on it specifically, plum and black fruit meets anise. Perhaps almond. Subsides. Juicy, vibrant, a good acidic presence. The tannin powdery and fine, providing a wave and presence that is at odds to the freshness....

2017 / Orange / sangiovese

Friday, 2 November 2018

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2017

16:00 Stu.

Does nothing to supress my urge to visit this site. Looking very good this 2017 vintage, even if it warmer than average - not always great for the variety at hand - but the seasonal warmth only tells one aspect, for the preceding winter was gloriously wet, given the dormant...

2017 / Fleurieu Peninsula / pinot noir

Rock of Wisdom Superfly Rosé 2018

08:30 Stu.

A second, or rather parallel, label for the Rock of Wisdom crew of Peter and Sofi Hiscock. Certainly up there with respect to offering some of the best bang for buck in drinkability combined with visual 'shelf-shout' appeal. At least as far my opinion goes, FWIW. Cranberry,...

2018 / Barossa Valley / Rosé

Thursday, 1 November 2018

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Sauvignon Blanc 2017

20:33 Stu.

Couldn't find too much about this wine on either the producer or distributor's website. Certainly opens confidently and with conviction, a herbaceous, nettle and an underlying citrus aroma awakening and enlivening, leaving no doubt as to the variety at hand. Opens...

2017 / Pemberton / Sauvignon Blanc

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