August 2019 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Saturday, 31 August 2019

Zonte's Footstep Scarlet Ladybird Rosé 2019

17:00 Stu.

With Spring just around the corner, a Berry laden Rosé was just the ticket as overnight lows start to climb and lead us to humidity. And with those thoughts came so many musical excerpts, thoughts of summer breezes (makes me feel fine), and listening to the wind...

2019 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Fleurieu / grenache / Langhorne Creek / McLaren Vale

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Chardonnay 2018

12:30 Stu.

Full, creamy cashew, wheaten, stonefruit - almost nectar like. More of the same on the palate, peach nectar; some hints of oak and toasty Ferment, but somewhat overshadowed by the fruit. Stylistically not my personal jam, but it'll be sure to have its fans. 88 Tasted...

2018 / Pemberton / Shiraz

Wills Domain Mystic Spring Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

08:30 Stu.

Dark chocolate and cocoa nibs, coffee grounds in the frame too, subtle herb and cedary inflections round things out. Black fruit meets fine and powdery tannin, reasonable length on the back of slight bittering cocoa notes. Palate consistent with aromatics, the grounds...

2018 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Margaret River

Friday, 30 August 2019

Gartelmann Jonathan Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

17:30 Stu.

Sees 14m in a mix (new/old) American and French oak. It's a bold and powerful wine, oak remnants with seasoning - by way of herb, cedar. Fruit is not forgotten, blackcurrant with a touch of violet in the frame too. Acid is fresh and at you, tart Blueberry like, bright...

2015 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Mudgee

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Shiraz 2017

12:30 Stu.

The kinda Shiraz you want to sink into from the off: plum, blue fruit hints, sweet spice kiss of oak. Doesn't disappoint on the palate, subtle powdery tannin hints that carry flavour across the palate, providing a frame for the fruit to make a resurgent appearance....

2017 / Pemberton / Shiraz

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2016

08:30 Stu.

28m in French Oak barriques (25% new). From Wrattonbully, close planted vines in Terra rossa soil over limestone. A mere 1200 bottles produced. Enticing from the get go: succulent red fruit, by way of redcurrant and perhaps a suggestion of cranberry. Oak frames it up,...

2016 / Cabernet Franc / Wrattonbully

Thursday, 29 August 2019

Castle Rock Estate Skywalk Porongurup Riesling 2019

17:30 Stu.

Muskiness, bath salts, lemon sherbet, Passionfruit, perhaps even a smattering of mango. Softer, rounded feel, acidity not missing, just broader in profile. It fills the palate, delivering length, width and a joyous refreshment. Hint of powdery phenolics just add...

2019 / Porongurup / riesling

Morris of Rutherglen Classic Liqueur Topaque NV

12:30 Stu.

Topaque - the artist formerly known (in Australia) as Tokay (a name now verboten outside of Hungary). Made from Muscadelle - a white grape variety. Here manifesting itself as a deep, rich, toffeed wine - molasses like in aroma. Unctuous, multi-layered,...

Muscadelle / NV / Rutherglen / Topaque

Jansz Vintage Cuvee 2014

08:30 Stu.

Bakers amongst you would immediately recognise the almost damp, heady, just baked bread aroma that leads here. Hints of nut, showing a touch biscuity. Softer palate than that intro might suggest, hints of green apple acidity, a gently effervescent wine, of...

2014 / Chardonnay / pinot noir / Sparkling / Tasmania

Wednesday, 28 August 2019

A Couple of Ideas for Father's Day

08:30 Stu.

The good folks at Sauce Communications and De Bortoli wines were kind enough to send a few samples to tie in with Father's Day (1st Sunday in September in Australia), so here's a few options for what to buy Dad (or the person you call Dad, or who acts as your Dad but may...

2011 / Botrytis / NV / Riverina / Semillon / Tawny

Tuesday, 27 August 2019

Castle Rock Estate Porongurup Shiraz 2017

17:00 Stu.

Has the air of cool climate Shiraz, a meat and pan juice aroma, peanut husks to boot. Violets, Plum, more of that savoury mien flowing through. Somewhat bold and firm, in a good way. Tannin is fine, long and provides generous carry of flavour. The length is quite...

2017 / Porongurup / Shiraz

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Chardonnay 2018

12:30 Stu.

Straightforward Chardonnay from Pemberton in Western Australia. Creamy citrus nose, elements of stonefruit. Flows through on the palate, crisp acidity, touch of flintiness. Decent length on a zesty finish. 90 Tasted on: Sunday 11th August, a Leaf to Fruit day Source:...

2018 / Chardonnay / Pemberton

Coulter Wines C3 Pinot Noir 2018

08:30 Stu.

From a single vineyard in Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills, MV6 Clone - for those that way inclined. It's 100% Whole Bunch, sees a 3 day carbonic maceration, and is bottled unfined with a small addition SO2. A plethora of red fruits waft from the glass, fruit at the...

2018 / Adelaide Hills / pinot noir

Monday, 26 August 2019

Jansz Single Vineyard Blanc de Blanc 2014

19:02 Stu.

A limited release wine, single vineyard, from a specified block, bottled in clear glass - aiming to mirror some of the premier brands from that appellation in France's North East. The first such release was the 2007 vintage, which was released in 2013....

2014 / Chardonnay / Sparkling / Tasmania

De Bortoli Deen Master's Blend Vat 184 2015

13:00 Stu.

A blend of Shiraz, Durif, Petit Verdot - realised to coincide with Father's Day, and timed so to honour De Bortoli patriarch, Deen De Bortoli. Ripe and sturdy aroma here, a generous tribute to its namesake. A mix of black fruit aromatics, subtle licorice...

2015 / Durif / Petit Verdot / Riverina / Shiraz

Sunday, 25 August 2019

Heartland Spice Trader Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

17:00 Stu.

Damson, Plum, a kiss of sweet edged oak to frame things up. You think you have its measure - another glimpse - cedar, a sprinkle of herb, seasoning. Succulent fruit guides, leading to a dark chocolate tinged body. Fruit again, bolstering the middle third,...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek

Wills Domain Cuvee d'Elevage NV

12:30 Stu.

Darker salmon hued sparkler here, from Wills Domain in Margaret River. Somewhat unusually made from 100% Merlot. Fine mousse, light bead, subtle strawberry, giving way to something akin to a more confected Berry aromatics. Slight bready hint accompanies warmed...

Margaret River / Merlot / NV / Sparkling

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Pinot Noir 2018

08:30 Stu.

Good smelling Pinot on offer here, a riot of the usual manner of red-black fruit, in a vein of sour cherry, hints of plum and wild strawberry. Doesn't quite have the palate presence the aromatics might suggest. That said, it's light and spicy, a good acidic presence....

2018 / Pemberton / pinot noir

Saturday, 24 August 2019

Wills Domain Mystic Spring Rosé 2019

17:30 Stu.

Strawberry, Turkish Delight, pink grapefruit, rose petal - pretty in pink for sure, pouring that pale salmon in glass. Crisp and clipped acidity, kiss of fruit across the palate, blue/black fruit hints. Little pop of citrissy acid at the wine's...

2019 / Margaret River / Rosé / Sauvignon Blanc / Shiraz

Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise Sauvignon Blanc 2018

12:30 Stu.

Citrus, chalky/powdery hint here, not so overt as some examples - a good thing. Subtle passionfruit/blackcurrant on the nose. Easy going citrus, dialled back acidity, softer and inviting. Not the most complex example and it doesn't purport to be so. 87 Tasted...

2018 / Adelaide / Sauvignon Blanc

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Merlot 2017

08:30 Stu.

Sampled this early in the morning and then revisited some hours later when it was absolutely singing. Merlot, so maligned, yet here it's such a varietal expression - as befits the cool of Pemberton - all tobacco, green olive and peppercorn. Soft, inviting,...

2017 / Merlot / Pemberton

Friday, 23 August 2019

Jansz Late Disgorged 2011

17:00 Stu.

An 8yo Tassie sparkler. Vanilla notes waft gently from this one, soft and inviting. Soft, sensuous, time one lees and in bottle has added depth and weight, age has softened the palate to the point it almost weightless. Lively bead, generosity of flavour and...

2011 / Chardonnay / pinot noir / Sparkling / Tasmania

Bremerton Betty & Lu Sauvignon Blanc 2019

12:30 Stu.

Citrus, grass, Gooseberry, with a hint of Passionfruit just rounding out the profile. Sharp citrus on a line of acid, tangy lemon drives this one home. Refreshment plus here, you could happily smash this down with some salty whitebait drizzled with lemon. Bingo. Summer's...

2019 / Langhorne Creek / Sauvignon Blanc

LS Merchants Whole Bunch Mataro 2019

08:30 Stu.

Stem and spice, 100% Whole Bunch clearly showing its hand. Mataro, a late ripening variety, showing well in a somewhat cool and maritime region. Beneath that spice lurks a juice laden palate. The blue/black fruit mix not evaded here, a grain of tannin that supplements...

#Organic / #ProjectMataro / 2019 / Margaret River / Mataro et al

Thursday, 22 August 2019

Ballycroft Small Berry Mataro 2016

17:30 Stu.

Winemaker Joe Evans replaced the headboards on these Barrels, essentially old oak, with a touch of new. Savoury notes, something grassy, sitting over that glorious deep Plum and black cherry Mataro fruit. That's where I Succumb to the depth of Mataro and its come...

#ProjectMataro / 2016 / Barossa Valley / Greenock / Mataro et al

Barossa Boy Cheeky Tilly Riesling 2019

12:30 Stu.

Browning lime, lemongrass, veering to a white pepper aspect that certainly tickles the olfactory organ. Fair width about it (I served first pour at about 10°), texture and phenolics as if worked to a degree. Classic Eden slatey minerality, and a focal length...

2019 / Eden Valley / riesling

Bremerton Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

08:30 Stu.

What a cracker for $22 of your finest! Black cherry, chocolate, subtle herb. It's inviting from the go, making you feel comfortable in its presence, embraced even. A lick of sweet blackcurrant curls across the palate, a darker toasted oak and coffee edge -...

2017 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek

Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Bremerton Special Release Malbec 2017

17:30 Stu.

Classic Malbec here, and as good as I've seen from the label, slightly smokey with an undertow of dusky violets. Has me hankering for a burger just writing about it! It's the kind of wine, with some time in glass that reels you in again and again, and you find something...

2017 / Langhorne Creek / Malbec

Gartelmann Stephanie Pinot Gris 2018

12:30 Stu.

Something like pear slices meets cottage cheese, or such. Touch of honey, baking spice. Acidity pricks it minerally dance across the palate, before the textural flourish, viscous. It's the acidity that gives drive, energy - and gentle carry of flavour. 89 Tasted...

2018 / Orange / Pinot Gris

Highgate Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV

08:30 Stu.

Pours a delightful golden hue, offers bready brioche hints, sweeter stonefruit accents - reminds of an apricot Danish, or such. Mousse and bead not so much to comment on. The palate lively, generous, toast and an acidic citrus presence cutting a line across...

Chardonnay / NV / pinot noir / South East Australia / Sparkling

Tuesday, 20 August 2019

La La Land Pinot Gris 2018

17:30 Stu.

Ticking the boxes Pinot Gris here. The usual pear, supplemented with some stonefruit aromatics. Nice zip of acidity that closes with a touch of spice. Easy going. 87 Tasted on: Thursday 18th July, a Root day Source: Sample Price: $18 Alcohol: 12.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: www.wingara.com Follow...

2018 / Pinot Gris / Victoria

Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2017

12:30 Stu.

A grilled meat and pan juice aroma on initial introduction. An array of blue'black fruit - consistent across the wine, and some white pepper lift. Bremerton make some cracking wines across the board, and here in their 'Signature' range. Latently violet and...

2017 / Langhorne Creek / Shiraz

Jim Barry Florita Riesling 2016

08:30 Stu.

First experience of the Florita, infanticide some might say, yet it's exhibiting some signs of aromatic development, throwing the petroleum like notes that Riesling in an Australian context shows. Perhaps some air time, or simply the nature of the beast, and lemongrass,...

2016 / Clare Valley / riesling

Monday, 19 August 2019

Andevine Reserve Hilltops Shiraz 2018

17:30 Stu.

Cited as being sourced from the "Kylmorn" vineyard in Young (typically Hilltops & Young are co-referenced as the GI). Andevine is Andrew Leembruggen (ex McWilliams, Drayton), a winemaker with a passion for both the Hunter and the cooler NSW high country. Blackcurrant...

2018 / Hilltops / Shiraz

Mr Mick Pinot Grigio 2018

12:30 Stu.

Winery website shows the 2019 as now available, so unsure if this one just slipped to the back of the pile or what. Lemons, Limes, Pear - it's almost perfectly like a Clare - although fruit is from Limestone Coast - take on the Grigio! Simple lick of flavour...

2018 / Limestone Coast / Pinot Grigio

Bremerton Tamblyn Cabernet Blend 2017

08:30 Stu.

Red blend from Langhorne Creek's Bremerton, being comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Shiraz (38%), Malbec (11%) and Merlot (6%). Coffee and mocha oak, comes and goes, fits and starts. Initially on opening it was softer, darkening - seemingly - after a small amount...

2017 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek / Malbec / Merlot / Shiraz

Sunday, 18 August 2019

Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2019

17:30 Stu.

It's a vibrant one, exuding lemon zest pink grapefruit and hits of Passionfruit in the mix. Aromas that are certainly not shy in coming forward. Upon entry, it's citrus and minerally tickle are. Jostling, making themselves known, yep for all that initial vibrancy it...

2019 / Adelaide Hills / Sauvignon Blanc

Gartelmann Joey Merlot 2015

12:30 Stu.

Robust Merlot from Orange, clocking in at over 15% it's not exactly what you'd call subtle. Generic dry red territory, not so subtle hints of Plum, vanilla oak and spice. There's actually a fine lick of flavour across the finish, it's just not in tune with the...

2015 / Merlot / Orange

Andevine Reserve Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2018

08:30 Stu.

I get knocked down, but I get up again. The resurrection of Aussie Chardonnay, away from the largesse of the buttery and oaky numbers, to the subtlety and crafted guile of examples, the establishment of cooler areas for same - where it belongs. Cool and creamy,...

2018 / Chardonnay / Tumbarumba

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