December 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

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