May 2020 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Sunday, 31 May 2020

Huntington Estate Semillon Chardonnay 2019

16:30 Stu.

Stonefruit, melon, grapefruit citrus. Zip and slide. Textural feel on entry with a racy acidity brimming along. Delivers length and flow. Feels quite short, but some of the rides can be like that. For me, on a night with 77% humidity, sometimes that's exactly what...

2019 / Chardonnay / Mudgee / Semillon

Hastwell and Lightfoot Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

08:30 Stu.

Chocolate, cedar, spice. Classic, rich, robust Cabernet from the maritime influenced McLaren Vale. Soft, fleshy, touches of grilled nut against violet florals, cassis, moderate eucalypt. It's soft and inviting, nigh sensuous across its length. Good going....

2017 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale

Saturday, 30 May 2020

Tahbilk Marsanne 2019

16:30 Stu.

By their own admission, Tahbilk - in Victoria's Nagambie Lakes - has the world's largest single holding of Marsanne, including plantings dating back to 1927. Opens with a nigh musky, husky accent over softer florals and stonefruit. Delicate palate, subtle textural roundness...

2019 / Marsanne / Nagambie Lakes

Chateau Paul Mas Coteaux de Languedoc Clos des Mures 2018

08:30 Stu.

Classic GSM blend from the Languedoc. Possibly a Dan Murphy's exclusive in Australia. Scorced earth and old leather, more of that savoury bent for sure. Palate showing a modicum of fruit, seeming a touch tired, tho the back palate does come through with...

2018 / France / grenache / Languedoc / Mataro et al / Syrah

Friday, 29 May 2020

XO Wine Co Game Night Single Vineyard Riesling 2019

16:30 Stu.

A vibrant and zesty offering from old mate Clackers (winemaker Greg Clack); initial aromatics suggest something mute and sullen - it sure challenges that on the palate with a riot of citrus, apple and musky spice. A hint of phenolic grip marks this out as somewhat different...

2019 / Adelaide Hills / riesling

Yangarra King's Wood Shiraz 2018

08:30 Stu.

The evolution of what was originally a whole bunch Shiraz, that over time incorporated use of large format oak (foudré). With time a single block started to reveal itself in a style suited to that which was sought, to become the King's Wood. Deep and dark Plum and Mulberry...

#Biodynamic / 2018 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Thursday, 28 May 2020

Paul Mas Marsanne 2018

16:30 Stu.

Quite unsure how this can be pumped out, exported and retailed for under ten bucks - particularly when it - at least - smells varietal. It's a soft and sensuous blend of florals, smatterings of stonefruit and a little confectioners creme. Yes it's a little...

2018 / France / Marsanne / Pays d"oc

Shaw Wines Merlot 2017

08:30 Stu.

Consistent profile from that which I recall last year, the tobacco perhaps a touch more prominent. Juicy blackcurrant fruit sitting over the top of that and flowing through the core of the wine. Smooth, medium bodied, purity of fruit with a fine touch of...

2017 / Canberra District / Merlot

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Yangarra Rosé 2019

16:30 Stu.

Grenache based Rosé from those masters up in the McLaren Vale high sands, Yangarra. They've long been held in high regard for an affinity with the variety, over time exploring use of different fermentation vessels including ceramic eggs - more about that later. Here,...

2019 / grenache / McLaren Vale / Rosé

Taylor's Jaraman Pinot Noir 2017

08:30 Stu.

Taylor's branches out to the Yarra, a fair way from its Clare Valley base. Its been a while between drinks from the Jarraman range, if memory serves if was historically a range that celebrated dual regionality, clearly not something adhered to here. It's fresh,...

2017 / pinot noir / Yarra Valley

Tuesday, 26 May 2020

Jules Taylor Pinot Gris 2019

16:30 Stu.

Redolent of pear drop lollies, supplemented with melon and stonefruit. Quite delicate across the palate - getting the impression that could well be a marker of these Jules Taylor wines, that and originating from a somewhat cooler clime than Aussie examples I'm used...

2019 / Marlborough / New Zealand / Pinot Gris

Rusty Mutt Rocky Ox GSM 2018

08:30 Stu.

The thing that's most impressed me about the Rusty Mutt wines is the balance. Approachable now, yet not without depth and substance. They're just there, unforced, just so. The palate on this GSM shows the leading Grenache based red fruit presence, with the accompanying...

2018 / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Monday, 25 May 2020

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Chardonnay 2019

16:30 Stu.

Comes across full, not quite buttery, something like lemon butter. Hints of grilled nut oak in support, stonefruit gloss. Adding up to an up and at you aromatic profile. Voluptuous, textural, rolls across the palate, nigh chewy, touches of nougat; a wine to stop and...

2019 / Chardonnay / Mudgee

Wirra Wirra Church Block 2018

08:30 Stu.

Excellent value here in this stalwart red blend (51/ 38/ 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot respectively) from Wirra Wirra in McLaren Vale. Deep, rich, cedar, mulberry with remnants of cassis barely riding shotgun. It's of its parts, its place, and its heritage....

2018 / Cabernet Sauvignon / McLaren Vale / Merlot / Shiraz

Sunday, 24 May 2020

Liv Zak Malbec 2018

20:40 Stu.

Rose, damson, smattering of new oak in the mix. More of a lightness on entry, with a spike of acidity; a real openness and airy kinda vibe. Yarra Valley Malbec - as a single varietal - is not a common occurrence, part of a blend - yes. Token black fruit hints, touch...

2018 / Malbec / Yarra Valley

Friday, 1 May 2020

Shaw Vineyard Estate Riesling 2019

16:30 Stu.

Green apple, hints of bath salt; fragrant and floral - pleasant aromatics before a cool acidic thrust on the palate. Lemon sherbet acidity dazzles across the palate, veers toward a little orange and tropicals to add further presence and appeal. A release of generosity...

2019 / Canberra District / riesling

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Franc Merlot 2016

08:30 Stu.

Classic right bank (Bordeaux) blend of Cabernet Franc (as opposed to Cabernet Sauvignon being king on the left). Wrattonbully in the far east of the state of South Australia has a cool, maritime influenced, climate - from memory the whalebone reference being to the fact...

2016 / Cabernet Franc / Merlot / Wrattonbully

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