September 2019 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Tuesday, 24 September 2019

Moppity Vineyards Nouveau Syrah 2018

18:23 Stu.

Moppity Vineyards under the stewardship of owners Jason and Alecia Brown has long been a brand to watch. Producing wines within a thoughtfully structured portfolio, the brand has gone from strength to strength over the ten or so years that I have been aware of it [see...

2018 / Hilltops / Syrah

Wednesday, 11 September 2019

Wills Domain Mystic Spring Sauvignon Blanc 2019

17:45 Stu.

Certainly an expressive individual is our Sauvignon Blanc, no mistaking the variety here. Guava, passionfruit, blackcurrant leaf all present - and correct - here. Succulently playful fruit flows generously. There’s hint of spice, cedar, a gentle phenolic rub lifts the...

2019 / Margaret River / Sauvignon Blanc

Alkoomi Blackbutt Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

08:30 Stu.

Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (73.3%), with Malbec (21.5%) and Cabernet Franc (5.2%). Again, I probably offer, or remark on this release strategy each time of the asking, 8 years old on release. And for that, there's still a fair throw of fruit primacy,...

2011 / Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon / Frankland River / Malbec

Tuesday, 10 September 2019

Zonte's Footstep Excalibur Sauvignon Blanc 2019

17:30 Stu.

Suffice to say that this one is a tad easier to retrieve from the wine rack than the sword from which it takes its name. Gooseberry, pithy and zesty grapefruit hints - hints of custard apple in the frame too. Rampant acidity cutting a swathe across the palate, like...

2019 / Adelaide Hills / Sauvignon Blanc

Moppity Vineyards Cato La Pendenza Sangiovese 2017

08:30 Stu.

'Cato' is the banner under which Moppity Vineyards has chosen to explore winemaking with, what may be considered, alternative varieties. Bottled in a high shouldered 'Malbec' bottle (more correctly designated as an "ACI Reverse taper Chateau BVS"), and what's...

2017 / Hilltops / sangiovese

Monday, 9 September 2019

Juniper Small Batch Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

18:00 Stu.

Whole bunch pressed to French barriques (of which 20% new) for 15 months. It's predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), with small additions of Malbec (5%), Merlot (5%), and Petit Verdot (4%) in the blend. Intentionally made in a juicier and earlier drinking style of...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Malbec / Margaret River / Merlot / Petit Verdot

Alkoomi Melaleuca Riesling 2017

08:30 Stu.

Produced from a single block of Riesling, vines that will soon be celebrating their half century in a couple of short years (1971 plantings). Lemon and lime, touch of development about it. Butter menthol, lemon balm, thyme. Aromatically complex. It's pressed off...

2017 / Frankland River / riesling

Sunday, 8 September 2019

Zonte's Footstep Shades of Gris Pinot Grigio 2019

17:30 Stu.

"One man on a lonely platform One case sitting by his side Two eyes staring cold and silent Show fear as he turns to hide Aaah, we fade to Gris..." Ripe nashi pear, something tropical - rock melon and stonefruit - what seems like estery notes (certainly...

2019 / Adelaide Hills / Pinot Gris

De Bortoli Woodfired Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

12:00 Stu.

Sourced from De Bortoli’s own vineyard at Corop in Northern Heathcote, adding to a range that already includes Heathcote Shiraz and Heathcote Sparkling Shiraz. As a style it was intended to complement wood-fired and charcoal based cooking. Jam packed with black fruit,...

2018 / Cabernet Sauvignon / heathcote

Saturday, 7 September 2019

Angullong Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

17:00 Stu.

Not playing the strongest aromatic game on first showing, needing a little time to play to its strengths. Good fruit presence, structure, herbal tangs, and spicier elements that build up to a wine that serves well. 88 Tasted on: Saturday 24th August, a Root...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Orange

Alkoomi White Label Cabernet Merlot 2017

08:30 Stu.

Black fruit leads with doughy, nigh fudgey oak character. Hints of seasoning add to that - giving overall appeal of a crowd pleasing. easy going red. Fairs better on the palate, the fruit being more prominent, over tobacco and leaf, albeit with an astringent, bittering. That...

2017 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Frankland River / Great Southern / Merlot

Friday, 6 September 2019

Wills Domain Cuvée d'Elevage Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

17:30 Stu.

Brioche hints with red apple and macerated strawberry. Subtle stonefruit adds to the profile. Citrus and zest, a liveliness across the palate. Semblance of texture and weight, after the initial verve and swagger. Loses some urgency, but makes for a subtle style...

Chardonnay / Margaret River / NV / pinot noir / Sparkling

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Shiraz 2016

08:30 Stu.

The 2016 releases are in exquisite form, the Shiraz no exception. Wines of finesse, gentle, not overwrought. It really is about remarkably fine tannin, seemingly endless and bringing with them an array of flavour. Hints of blackcurrant, it feels rather...

2016 / Shiraz / Wrattonbully

Thursday, 5 September 2019

Shaw Wines Rosé 2019

17:30 Stu.

A curious wine, and one that I have no doubt will please many, in refreshment we trust. Opens with a red berry mix, subtle blackcurrant - it's delicate, a balanced aromatic offering. The palate was tart and tangy, almost sherbet like in its initial presence. It...

Juniper Estate Chardonnay 2017

08:30 Stu.

Whole bunch pressed to barrel; wild ferment, with early battonage to build texture; 10m in French barriques (of which 45% new). Almost reads as a textbook for well worked, premium Chardonnay. Oak and seasoning the dominant characteristic. Something like a peppery...

2017 / Chardonnay / Margaret River

Wednesday, 4 September 2019

Wills Domain Mystic Spring Shiraz 2018

17:30 Stu.

All manner of red fruit pervades here: plum, mulberry, smattering of raspberry; darker earth, tar and meaty vibes follow. Certainly comes across as cool climate, I think I'd perhaps pick this as a Hills Shiraz. Hints of violet and maybe some vanilla oak in the...

2018 / Margaret River / Shiraz

Ottelia Riesling 2018

07:30 Stu.

Riesling from the deep south here, instead of Bayous and tropical humidity, instead think a cool maritime influenced climate, moderated by the Great Southern Ocean. Florals in the main, lavender and jasmine notes over citrus, thyme, perhaps a touch of rosemary...

2018 / Mount Gambier / riesling

Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Clovely Estate Saperavi 2016

17:30 Stu.

Saperavi, an interesting one, seemingly finding a home in Queensland two recognised GIs. Dark fruited with a savoury undertow, spice tinged and that all manifests itself on the palate. Somewhat large tannins, good structure, the kind of wine that demands...

2016 / Saperavi / South Burnett

Alkoomi White Label Riesling 2019

12:30 Stu.

Hotly anticipated at Chateau Vinsomniac, the White Label releases from Alkoomi represent great value - and yes, I appreciate I likely offer this words each vintage - across the range. A veritable pot pouri here: suggestions of lemongrass, apple blossom, even a touch...

2019 / Great Southern / riesling

Terre à Terre Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

08:30 Stu.

From the close planted Crayères vineyard in Wrattonbully. A site that is beginning to distinguish itself as one of Australia's finest. It's 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, the balance being Cabernet Franc (9%) and a splash of Shiraz (5%). It carries an aura of a wine...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Wrattonbully

Monday, 2 September 2019

Angullong Shiraz 2017

17:00 Stu.

Plummy hints, cool climate Shiraz, peppery seasoning. Similar flow on the palate. Initially feeling quite sullen, it does slowly start to unfurl, to open up a little. It reveals itself to be a fine-grained, medium bodied, wine. A nice flash of acidity adds a little...

2017 / Orange / Shiraz

Wills Domain Cuvée d'Elevage Blanc de Blanc NV

12:30 Stu.

Biscuit notes, citrus, a touch of pepper perhaps. Citrus, more by way of a lemony tang, green apple acidity, tickle of mineral. Quite assertive across the palate, reasonable generosity of intent and persistent flavour here. 89 Tasted on: Wednesday 21st August, a...

Chardonnay / Margaret River / NV / Sparkling

Max & Me Woodcutter's Vineyard Mirooloo Road Riesling 2019

08:30 Stu.

Max & Me being Sarah Lehmann - former ballet dancer - and Max (the dog), with Phil Lehmann as principal grape nurturer. Exquisite Riesling from the Eden Valley here, whilst the familiar lime notes are present, it also comes along with twists of Thai basil. Complexity...

2019 / Eden Valley / riesling

Sunday, 1 September 2019

Shaw Vineyard Estate Winemakers Selection 2017

12:30 Stu.

An attractive and succulent, go now style of Shiraz from Shaw in Canberra District. It's redolent of a blue and black fruit mix of blueberry, mulberry and a suggestion of plum. Specifics perhaps don't matter, rather it's more about the approachable fruit forward...

2017 / Canberra District / Shiraz

Mystic Spring Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2019

08:30 Stu.

The unmistakeable aroma of Sauvignon Blanc here; it's grassy, Gooseberry, touch of Passionfruit ways dominating proceedings. Piercing citrus acidity on the palate, textural glossiness added to that. Refreshingly sharp in a sorbet like way. 88 Tasted on:...

2019 / Margaret River / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

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