February 2020 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Wednesday, 19 February 2020

Angullong Sauvignon Blanc 2019

16:00 Stu.

Very much of a tropical bent, of Passionfruit and Guava. Creates an inviting aroma that certainly would real the imbiber in. Has a certain amount of zest and swagger on entry, combined with the aromatics it creates an attractive proposition from the get go. Sensitively...

2019 / Orange / Sauvignon Blanc

d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original Grenache Shiraz 2017

08:30 Stu.

McLaren Vale Grenache leads clearly here, raspberry and mulberry establishing fruit primacy; hints of earth warmed by the summer sun, oak remnants. Darker at its heart than aromatics initially suggest, more of the earthen notes, suggestions of liquorice and spice -...

2017 / grenache / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Tuesday, 18 February 2020

Opawa Pinot Noir Rosé 2019

12:56 Stu.

Pretty, inviting; hints of cassis, strawberry and raspberry elements. Touch of residual sweetness and a brisk clip of acidity racing across the palate. Finishes dry and with a reasonable length of flavour. Good Pinot based Rosé. 89 Tasted on: Sunday...

2019 / Marlborough / New Zealand / pinot noir / Rosé

Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Yalumba Y Series Sauvignon Blanc 2019

16:00 Stu.

Sauv Blanc such a maligned - and abused - variety, yet it sells by the bucketload. This entry level example from Yalumba’s bargain brilliant ‘Y’ series aromatically speaks of zesty grapefruit with some tangy lemon in support. Subtle tropical hints add some aromatic...

2019 / Sauvignon Blanc / South East Australia

Oakridge Merlot 2013

08:30 Stu.

Yarra Merlot at 7y, fleshy and meaty; juxtaposition of Plum and damson like fruit amongst that. Slick, almost glycerol like, oak remnants - on a 7y old - spice and touches of black olive across the palate. Finishes strong, assertive and yet balanced. 92 Tasted...

2013 / Merlot / Yarra Valley

Tuesday, 11 February 2020

Mesh Classic Release Riesling 2014

16:00 Stu.

Billed as a 'Classic Release', released at 5/6 years of age. Classic, as in showing the typical development of Riesling with some age, being that petroleum and lanolin character - the latter more often associated with aged Semillon, but also a sheep's wool...

2014 / Eden Valley / riesling

Bremerton Special Release Grenache 2019

08:30 Stu.

Not particularly common as a single varietal in the Creek. On this showing I'd suggest that we should. Sees one third whole bunch. The whole bunch certainly shows its hand, lending an elegant spice and sappy edge to the briar and black fruit notes. The palate, soft...

2019 / grenache / Langhorne Creek

Monday, 10 February 2020

Pewsey Vale Riesling 2019

16:00 Stu.

Clare and Eden, two perfect names for daughters that may never come to be - sharp of wit, and longevity. Contrived, maybe. But nonetheless two Powerhouse regions - being Clare and Eden Valleys of course - when it comes to Riesling in an Australian context This Pewsey...

2019 / Eden Valley / riesling

Castle Rock Estate Porongurup Pinot Noir 2018

08:30 Stu.

Who doesn't love picking strawberries? One for you, one for the basket? A glass for you, a glass for me. Yes, it conveys strawberry in both aroma and taste - unmistakably so. Take it unto oneself, it's succulent with a vein of acidity that represents the wine's...

2018 / Great Southern / pinot noir / Porongurup

Sunday, 9 February 2020

Smith & Hooper Pinot Grigio 2019

15:30 Stu.

Pear drops, green apples, floral elements. Spiced, textural nuances - veering to more Gris like territory, straddling a fine line. Wrattonbully can do this, cooler and marginal maritime, leads to a slightly fuller and riper style. Give it 3-4 years if you like...

2019 / Pinot Grigio / Wrattonbully

Altus Rise Wildlight Shiraz 2018

08:30 Stu.

Plum, Mulberry, hint of coffeed oak. Succulent, medium bodied, mulberry and plum; fruit turns a touch jammy towards the back end. Pretty simple, straightforward wine. Moderate rub of tannin bolsters that. Decent medium-full Shiraz from Margaret River...

2018 / Margaret River / Shiraz

Saturday, 8 February 2020

Shaw Vineyard Estate Sparkling Cuvée 2018

16:00 Stu.

Quince, stonefruit, custard apple in the mix too. Soft aromatics. Citrus generosity, akin to lemon sherbet; lively and fruity across the palate. Finesse it may be lacking, but frivolity is where it's at. At once it both slakes a thirst and enlivens the palate,...

2018 / Canberra District / Semillon / Sparkling

Running With Bulls Tempranillo 2018

08:30 Stu.

The Running With Bulls range has been a consistent performer over the years, gravitating around the Tempranillo, but also includes a Garnacha. Back in the day there was also a Vermentino in its ranks, that now seems to have been replaced with a Verdejo! In...

2018 / Barossa Valley / Tempranillo

Friday, 7 February 2020

Tim Adams Pinot Gris 2019

16:00 Stu.

A delightful and barely there blush of colour in the glass. Just ripe beurre blanc pear leads, stone fruit, subtle vanilla hints waft underneath, translating into an almost creaming soda aspect that flows gently across the palate. A textural roundness and - yet- whilst...

2019 / Clare Valley / Pinot Gris

Auld Family Wines Strawbridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

08:30 Stu.

Earth, dark chocolate, subtle eucalypt wafting through. Well pitched medium-full body - I've been impressed with the balance of these Auld Family Wines, nothing over-wrought, yet not sacrificing varietal character. Well worked, well executed. A finesse carries...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Langhorne Creek

Thursday, 6 February 2020

Juniper Crossing Chardonnay 2018

16:00 Stu.

It spends 9m in French Oak, of which 15% is new. Stonefruit, leesy, bready notes; the 2018 guise saw an extra 5m on lees to build complexity. Fairly solid and voluminous wine, of generosity and substance; Stonefruit, tropical fruit hints, subtle spice....

2018 / Chardonnay / Margaret River

Juniper Crossing Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2019

08:30 Stu.

It's a 52/48 blend of the two respectively. A small portion of the Semillon (5%) was fermented in barrel. Additionally there was stirring of the lees to build extra texture. Well it's certainly an expressive number: Citrus, grass and herb, veering toward a suggestion...

2019 / Margaret River / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Yalumba Y Series Chardonnay 2019

16:00 Stu.

Stonefruit, melon, creamy cashew and nougat; fresh and approachable, no oak presence to speak of - perhaps the merest smattering of oak derived spice. Fruit presence is well defined across the palate, textural nuances, subtle spiced hints. For a wine that...

2019 / Chardonnay / South Australia

Altus Rise Ascension Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

08:30 Stu.

Altus Rise is a relatively new label - at the time of writing the website doesn't even seem operational - with fruit sourced primarily from vineyards in the Yallingup sub-region of Margaret River. I think it fair to say that that wines are a work in progress at this early...

2018 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Margaret River

Tuesday, 4 February 2020

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2016

20:33 Stu.

Old Adam sits perched top of the Bremerton tree, representing prime Langhorne Creek Shiraz, and built for the long haul. As such, it feels remiss to attempt to drink in youth, but sample and assess we must. Previous reviews available here. Rich, deep set, coffeed oak...

2016 / Langhorne Creek / Shiraz

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