June 2019 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Sunday, 30 June 2019

Bunnamagoo Estate Cab Sauv Merlot 2016

16:30 Stu.

Sent as part of a sample pack of winners from the 2018 Mudgee wine show, this wine bringing home "Winner of the Best Red Wine (not Shiraz or Cabernet). Dusty and earthy, savoury notes emanate forth more than any fruit. Dark chocolate, nuts - each component is fermented...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Mudgee

d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache 2016

12:17 Stu.

Ripe 'n' spicy, it conveys that nigh juby and redcurrant red fruit married to a veritable cornucopia of spices drawn from across the spice rack. Tannin fine, acid high, the fruit a central presence throughout. Medium to full, classic McLaren Vale and d'Arry's....

2016 / grenache / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Saturday, 29 June 2019

Alkoomi Black Label Riesling 2018

13:00 Stu.

Black Label is typically a highly expressive Riesling from the cool of Franklin River. This vintage is no exception, offering a complex range from the usual lime and kaffir lime through to more specific lemongrass. Texturally it offers more than your typical line and...

2018 / Frankland River / riesling

Pizzini Forza di Ferro Sangiovese 2015

08:30 Stu.

Savoury aroma, meaty/bonoxy. Hints of Plum and violet florals lurking. An edge of brown spice. Soft, inviting, an onset of spice and yet with a sweet edge - initially - with the spice winning out across the length of the wine. Fine tannin, reinforces that sweet/savoury...

2015 / King Valley / sangiovese

Friday, 28 June 2019

d'Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2014

13:39 Stu.

A wine I always look forward to on release. In part for its representation of an Aussie dream (for, which home owner doesn't want a 'Galvo' shed) and also its nod, deferential or otherwise, to the 'garagistes' - those artisan French winemakers, churning out their small...

2014 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale / Merlot / Petit Verdot

d'Arenberg The Money Spider Roussanne 2018

12:30 Stu.

Skinsy, stonefruit feel, creamy vanilla nuances. Acidic freshness, a minerally spritz that dances along the palate. Certainly not wanting with respect to flavour, packing a punch - perhaps at the expense of more texture. Decent length and carry of flavour....

#Organic / 2018 / McLaren Vale / Roussanne

d'Arenberg The Cenosilicaphobic Cat Sagrantino Cinsualt 2012

08:30 Stu.

Unsure what happened to this release, whether it was forgotten about, laying dormant for some time, or it actually is intended to be released as a 7 year old - rather unusual. 96% Sagrantino, 4% Cinsault. Cherry, Plum, woody spice - almost exotic, with its fragrance...

2012 / Cinsault / McLaren Vale / Sagrantino

Thursday, 27 June 2019

Westcourt Wines Liqueur Muscat 2000

17:30 Stu.

A liquid time capsule - not sure I can definitively recall what I was doing back in 2000! Toffee, rose water/petal, vanilla accents. It's the sweeter notes that lead, heady and aromatic, before the softer aromatics. Slightly raisined, yet again the sweet toffee meets that initial dried fruit aspect, latterly itself transitioning to a spirited and alcoholic note. It possesses incredible depth...

2000 / Fortified / Mudgee / Muscat

Juniper Small Batch Fiano 2018

12:30 Stu.

Fairly neutral aromatic profile, faint husk and citrus pithiness. Delivers more across the palate, both in weight and texture along with flavour - half the wine being barrel fermented, adding weight and textural width. Good bracing acidity moves things along,...

2018 / Fiano / Margaret River

Taylor's Estate Pinot Noir 2017

08:30 Stu.

Macerated Strawberry, raspberry - a light red fruit manifestation, just with that slight edge of wildness, hints of carbonic maceration - but in fact isn't - and an inclusion of some whole bunch (suggestive). Light to medium bodied, perhaps lacking depth and intensity....

2017 / Adelaide Hills / pinot noir

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Bremerton Batonnage Shiraz Malbec 2017

17:30 Stu.

Bremerton are making a bit of a name for themselves with the Malbec variety, a pursuit which has led to the creation of this Shiraz/ Malbec blend. Plummy Shiraz notes married to elements of purple. Fruit and florals of Malbec. Sweet, almost sugar accented, fruit. Carries...

2017 / Langhorne Creek / Malbec / Shiraz

Peterson's Semillon 2012

12:30 Stu.

Preserved lemons, lanolin, it's developing nicely - taking on the kero-like characters that we see in an aged Semillon. The palate maintains freshness and vitality, citrus in the main and veering to something like a Weiss mango sorbet character. It draws long across the...

2012 / Mudgee / Semillon

Golden Grove Rosé Brose 2019

08:30 Stu.

A recent trip to the Granite Belt led to the Cellar Door of Golden Grove Estate, jeez the Costanzo family are putting out some rippers, this Rosé no exception. A ripping Rosé from Ray Costanzo of Golden Grove Estate in Queensland's Granite Belt. Made from parcels of...

2019 / Granite Belt / grenache / Rosé / sangiovese / Shiraz

Tuesday, 25 June 2019

Ridgemill Estate The Lincoln Shiraz Viognier 2017

17:30 Stu.

The vibrant rim gives a clear indication of Viognier's presence in the blend. For mine it doesn't necessarily convey its presence aromatically, instead that consistent earthen presence, consistent with my thoughts on the 2016 (link) release. Deep and dark fruits...

2017 / Granite Belt / Shiraz / Viognier

Ridgemill Estate Joshua's Pup Shiraz Grenache 2017

08:30 Stu.

Ridgemill have gone to town on the Rhone components in this vintage, whilst badged as a Shiraz Grenache, it also contains portions of both Viognier and Mourvedre (Mataro). It opens with the allure of warmed fruits, akin to a summer pudding; darker vibes - most...

2017 / Granite Belt / grenache / Shiraz

Monday, 24 June 2019

Yelland and Papps Second Take Vermentino 2018

16:30 Stu.

A whopping 310 days on skins, before the Papps kids earned their supper by pressing it off. Has that skinsy, herbal tea/Jasmine tea vibe going on, a suggestion of tart citrus ripples across the nose. Beautifully balanced, aspects of baking spice sit meshed into...

2018 / Barossa Valley / Vermentino

Yelland and Papps Second Take Mataro 2018

08:30 Stu.

Savoury, whole bunch derived notes (84%). Peppery, briar, that stemmy goodness. Delicate, black fruited body, fine grain of tannin. It's persistent in its manner. Perhaps less varietal, in what you might consider typical from a Barossa perspective. Doesn't make it right....

#ProjectMataro / 2018 / Barossa Valley / Mataro et al

Sunday, 23 June 2019

Ubertas Project D Shiraz 2017

17:30 Stu.

Ubertas is the family owned and operated winery of Sung-Po Liu, who emigrated to Australia in 2007 after running a series of tech businesses across China and Taiwan. Sons, Phil and Kevin found great interest in the wine industry and after completing master degrees - in...

2017 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Bremerton Vermentino 2017

13:30 Stu.

Floral and fragrant, has that peachy pop of flavour right at you from the off. Lemon fresh and pulp add the essential elements that take you to a rocky Mediterranean shoreline, waves breaking and adding a saline zip to the air. Briney, with a moderate phenolic...

2017 / Langhorne Creek / Vermentino

Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo 2017

08:30 Stu.

Nebbiolo, beloved variety originally from Italy's Piedmonte region. Here, instead, from Victoria King Valley. Has the beautiful radiance, a garnet hue, redolent of cherry and pomegranate, spice tinged. It's soft, encompassing, for a variety renowned for its tannin structure,...

2017 / King Valley / nebbiolo

Saturday, 22 June 2019

Tapanappa Cabernet Shiraz 2015

17:30 Stu.

Deep and rich, the appropriate representation of the two varieties. Plummy depths, cedary spiced. Succulent, oak framed palate, still feeling somewhat raw for now, it will settle with time. It's deep, somewhat dense, grain of tannin. This just lapped up a lamb roast,...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz / Wrattonbully

Castle Rock Estate Skywalk Riesling 2018

13:00 Stu.

Sold out ex-winery - I can understand why! Seductive tropical aromatics lure from the off, of fleshy mango, orange oils and a husky, musky note. The palate somewhat somewhat tighter than the openness might suggest. A fine minerality, delicate tail, running long...

2018 / Great Southern / riesling

Zonte's Footstep Dawn Patrol Pinot Noir 2017

08:30 Stu.

Red currant, sour cherry, sarsaparilla. Delicious mid-weight, texture and presence. More of the red fruit elements weighing through the middle, subtlety so - a minor quibble in that I was seeking more from it. Barely there tannin, on a gentle ebb and flow. 89 Tasted...

Friday, 21 June 2019

d'Arenberg Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

17:30 Stu.

Mulberry, damson, chocolate oak. Something more medicinal coming through, trough-lolly like perhaps. Showing a little warmth. Slick and silken, lovely bonded tannin across the length of the palate - fine, the barest rasp. More blackcurrant and Mulberry fruit in...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Robert Stein Farm Series Riesling 2018

12:00 Stu.

Kaffir Lime, piney hints with tropical fruit rounding out the profile. Produced from the younger blocks of the Robert Stein holdings, a good strategy. Has some width, body to it, feels slick as it glides across the palate. Lacks depth, penetration, that which...

2018 / Mudgee / riesling

Taylor's Estate Shiraz 2017

08:30 Stu.

Plummy, hints of oak by way of vanilla. Touch of briar, evolves with some time losing that initial freshness, segueing to more of a savoury bent. Similar feel and flow on the palate. Has that Clare Valley black fruited feel, smooth and glossy, hiding its just under...

2017 / Clare Valley / Shiraz

Thursday, 20 June 2019

Wirra Wirra Original Blend 2018

18:00 Stu.

Ah the OG blend - Grenache (70%), Shiraz (30%); McLaren Vale (100%). For a Grenache dominant blend, its rather more subtle in comparison to what can be produced in the region. Yes, there's certainly a suggestion of the jubey raspberry for which the region/variety conjunction...

2018 / grenache / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Tuck's Ridge Chardonnay 2016

12:30 Stu.

An absolute riot of stonefruit and oak just presenting itself here. Cheesy, leesy elements sit around the periphery here, supplementing the core. It's a heavy, worked example - with toast and flint notes spreading rapidly across the body. It's grunty, chunky,...

2016 / Chardonnay / Mornington Peninsula

Zonte's Footstep Canto Sangiovese Lagrein 2017

08:30 Stu.

Savoury, woody, hints of anise. Plum hints, adding succulence to the spice. Juicy, mid-bodied; blackcurrant and Blueberry, gives freshness and a semblance of acidity, gives length and flow. 91 Tasted on: Saturday 22nd December Source: Sample Price:...

2017 / Fleurieu / Lagrein / sangiovese

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

Yelland and Papps Second Take Shiraz 2018

17:30 Stu.

Sub 13% Barossa Shiraz, who'd have thought that 10-20 years ago when the world was enthralled with full throttle, high-octane Shiraz of 15-odd percent? That said, there's much evidence (anecdotal, and empirical) that prior to those 'Parkerised' styles that Barossan...

2018 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Windowrie Family Reserve Chardonnay 2017

12:30 Stu.

Cool climate Chardonnay from the Cowra region here. It's a beautiful balance of peach stonefruit, lime citrus and flinty hints. The oak and gentle complexity aid length, ebbing along toward a conclusion. Unhurried, unforced, elegant. 91 Tasted on: Sunday 17th...

2017 / Chardonnay / Cowra

Warramunda Estate Pinot Noir 2016

08:30 Stu.

Sour Cherry, has the slightly wild edge, suggestive of natural Ferment. Minor whole bunch inclusion. Light, Berry driven, maraschino cherry. Tannin an afterthought. Good wine, questions on price/value given $50 ask. 90 Tasted on: Saturday 22nd December Source:...

2016 / pinot noir / Yarra Valley

Tuesday, 18 June 2019

Pocketwatch by Robert Oatley Shiraz 2017

17:30 Stu.

Cool climate Shiraz, just speaks of cooler climes, with Plum, a smokey edge and meaty hints. Clovey edge, on a smooth, silken, milk chocolate body. It's slips across the palate, fair gliding in its way. Unforced, unhurried, Plummy fruit, barest hint of a minty...

2017 / Central Ranges / Shiraz

Harewood Estate Denmark Riesling 2018

12:30 Stu.

Look, I'm not infallible, this - for me - was the least impressive of the sub-regional Rieslings produced out of Harewood. The others having an impressive pedigree and showing from the 2018 releases reviewed. From something of a rare planting of Riesling in sub-maritime...

2018 / Denmark / Great Southern / riesling

Warramunda Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

08:30 Stu.

Spends three months on skins before being pressed off to tank, then racked back to French Oak barriques. Yarra Cabernet is an interesting beast, ripeness can be an issue in cooler spots. Here it's borderline, carrying the herbaceous, woody edge over a red fruit...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Yarra Valley

Monday, 17 June 2019

Juniper Small Batch Tempranillo 2017

17:30 Stu.

The first Juniper wine I tasted, possibly some ten years ago when friends shared a bottle back in the day. If only serves to show how long Juniper have been playing with a variety that can be very hit and miss in Australia. Carries the Berry driven lines of Tempranillo,...

2017 / Margaret River / Tempranillo

Pizzini Pinot Grigio 2018

12:30 Stu.

Succulent pear, almost brimming and dripping with the flavour and aroma one hopes, certainly expects of a Grigio (of Italian heritage). That said, I was hoping for more of a clipped an acid forward line. Rather, here, it has more of a rounded and textural resolve. No...

2018 / King Valley / Pinot Grigio

Castle Rock Estate Shiraz 2015

08:30 Stu.

Classic cool climate Shiraz here. I saw this peanut brittle character - something i've often seen in Shiraz from the Canberra district. Complete with delightfully balanced blackberry, briar - smooth, mellifluous fruit; firmish graphite tannin completes the picture....

2015 / Great Southern / Porongurup / Shiraz

Sunday, 16 June 2019

Huntington Estate Tim Stevens Signature Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

17:30 Stu.

A 50/50 blend of Cabernet and Shiraz. The Cabernet portion from the estate's Block 3 and sent off to 70% aged French oak; Shiraz was taken from Block 1, being sent off to 60% New American. And yes, those things matter for what they impart to the wine, whether you care...

2017 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Mudgee / Shiraz

Robert Stein Farm Series Rosé 2018

12:30 Stu.

Strawberry, rose, elements of Turkish Delight. Soft, inviting, a suggestion of fruit sweetness juxtaposed against the tartness. An acidic bitterness judges the wine rather harshly, somewhat punctuating it before its sweeping softness on a length. It drinks OK,...

2018 / Merlot / Mudgee / Rosé / Shiraz

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