May 2019 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Friday, 31 May 2019

Harewood Estate Flux-V Pinot Noir 2018

17:00 Stu.

I'd heartily recommend a good look at the Harewood website for its dynamic representation of the various terroir at play here. Impressive stuff. From the accompanying PR: With (winemaker) James Kellie’s attractive FLUX wines, there is more freedom - but an...

2018 / Great Southern / pinot noir / Single Vineyard

Liv Zak Rosé 2017

12:30 Stu.

I'm liking these Warramunda and Liv Zak wines, a suggestion of early picking (on both ABVs and flavour profile), with an approachability now, and structure to boot. Delicate Berry aromatics, florals and a softness that reminds of talcum (or such). Crispness,...

2017 / pinot noir / Rosé / Yarra Valley

Bremerton Malbec 2016

08:30 Stu.

Blue fruit, bramble, hedgerow - aromatically intriguing, alluring. Of interest for sure. Smooth, silken (maceration/skin s?), fine tannins. Dusky violets, cassis - in the realm of baked blue fruit - where it loses sweetness, retaining 'fruit' preserve. Good length,...

2016 / Langhorne Creek / Malbec

Thursday, 30 May 2019

d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2017

18:30 Stu.

A modest $2 increase for the Footbolt over the prior vintage, although that represents a 10\11% increase if you look at it that way. Still bloody banging bargain, for what is a stellar performer. I was a touch concerned about some jangly acidity last...

2017 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Ferngrove Black Label Merlot 2016

12:57 Stu.

Darn good Merlot for the dollar. Carries a freshness from the off, reminds of stewing plums in a kitchen - as a preamble to assembling some form of pie. A slight menthol hint adding to that aromatic profile. It's rather light in colour, almost garnet-like with...

2016 / Frankland River / Merlot

Brand's Laira Blockers Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

08:30 Stu.

Chocolate and wafts of menthol. A rich and heavenly brew that veers toward rum 'n' raisin territory. Possesses a thick and chewy palate, certainly defined and purposeful, yet somewhat singular in its conviction. There are elements of the black fruit and oak...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Coonawarra

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Atze's Corner Rosé 2018

12:30 Stu.

But my name was Elisa Day. Coppery hued number here, positively radiates a berry led vibe on approach. Think more like redcurrant and cranberry over a little of the raspberry. It's made from Grenache - primarily - with a dribble of Mataro thrown in. Crunch...

2018 / Barossa Valley / grenache / Mataro et al / Rosé

Atze's Corner Wild Rose Vermentino 2018

08:30 Stu.

It's been a while since I've had the pleasure of seeing some Atze's Corner releases. Sadly in the month that has passed since tasting this release, the "Sold Out" sign has gone up on the Atze's website for it. Vermentino has been amongst the next "great white hopes"...

2018 / Barossa Valley / Vermentino

Tuesday, 28 May 2019

Harewood Estate Porongurup Riesling 2018

18:00 Stu.

Nettle, cut grass, florals and citrus. Fainter tropical hunts lie underneath, mango and perhaps a little lychee. Sharp, razor-like green apple and citrus acidity greets you on entry. Has a distinctive tang, induces a salivatory experience across the palate from the...

2018 / Great Southern / Porongurup / riesling

Pizzini Nonna Gisella Sangiovese 2017

14:00 Stu.

Evocative of cherry, even a little macerated raspberry as it veers toward the lighter end of the red fruit spectrum. Dazzling palate, soft and supple on entry. Acidity freshens and awakes in what seems a secondary movement. Tannin is soft, almost powdery. All this makes...

2017 / King Valley / sangiovese

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Shiraz 2015

08:30 Stu.

It's hard to keep up with the extensive range from the Huntington stable, here a reserve Shiraz, as ever with a bit of cellar time already under the belt. It's drawn from fruit off of fifty year old vines, on skins for 11 days and then seeing 20 months maturation...

2015 / Mudgee / Shiraz

Monday, 27 May 2019

Superfly Grenache Mataro 2018

20:28 Stu.

Ah yes, the one for making love with the lights on. Don't tell the Mrs, but I reckon these two are the other great loves of my life! Fresh, vibrant, juicy. We had this accompanied by Charles Bradbury covering Black Sabbath's 'Changes', perfect juxtaposition of soul...

2018 / Barossa Valley / grenache / Mataro et al

Coppabella Sirius Chardonnay 2017

16:00 Stu.

Winemaking at the margins here, up in the high country of Tumbarumba. Coppabella being a sister company to Jason and Alecia Brown's 'Moppity', with a singular focus to produce cool-climate wines of finesse and precision under that label. The wine itself seemingly as...

2017 / Chardonnay / Tumbarumba

Zonte's Footstep Lady Marmalade Vermentino 2018

13:18 Stu.

Vermentino a few years back was touted as the next "great white hope" of Australian viticulture - they come along every so often, championed by a producer, well regarded scribe or such - being a somewhat drought tolerant variety that retains natural acid well. Such things...

2018 / Fleurieu / Vermentino

Friday, 24 May 2019

Shaw Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

14:00 Stu.

Jeez, I doubt this could be any more varietal if it tried! The Cabernet is strong in this one. Just exudes and emanates Cabernosity (it's not a word, I made it up) from the get go. All cedar, bay, bit of tomato bush in the mix. Smidge of sawdusty oak to book....

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Canberra District

Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2017

08:35 Stu.

Always a wine that exhibits the winemakers intent well. Here, the meal aspects of the Chardonnay combined with stonefruit hints sit first, with biscuity notes supplementary to that. The body a textural and minerally delight, with a fine spine of acidity. A wine...

2017 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay

Sunday, 12 May 2019

Huntington Estate Barrel Ferment Chardonnay 2018

13:14 Stu.

Toasty, barrel fermented funk going on. Grilled stonefruit softens that initial hit, adding a fruity succulence to the wine. Nougat, cashew - both serve to supplement things. That all flows through to the palate, a citrus edge adds flow and length to the wine....

2018 / Chardonnay / Mudgee

Saturday, 11 May 2019

d'Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne 2018

11:50 Stu.

Has this golden aura, a succulent and rounded aromatic profile with stonefruit top notes. The Viognier is principal variety here and it shows. It's rich and loaded on the palate, the vanilla edged Marsanne staking its claim here. It's got a sweeter edge too, akin...

2018 / Marsanne / Viognier

Thursday, 9 May 2019

Terre à Terre Piccadilly Rosé 2018

19:01 Stu.

Pinot Noir (82%) and Chardonnay (18%) drawn from the Bizot, Heysen and Summertown vineyards in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills) originally destined for sparkling base, this being made from the pressings. Onion skin accents lure the eye in, red fruit and stonefruit...

2018 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay / pinot noir

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)