June 2020 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Brave New Wine Hercules & Sunshine Riesling 2019

16:30 Stu.

Sees some skin contact before being pressed off to a ceramic egg and a new French oak barrel for maturation on lees.It's floral and spice tinged, quite unlike other Riesling from within, and without. Layered, textured, cascading in waves across the palate....

2019 / Frankland River / Great Southern / riesling

Mottura Primitivo del Salento IGT 2018

08:30 Stu.

Woodsy, touch of milk chocolate, fennel tops/ licorice. Straddling that savoury vibe, with hints of fruit. Supple and lithe palate, medium bodied, with a milky and creamy blackcurrant and plum fruit presence. Tannins are fine grained, carrying that aforementioned...

2018 / Primitivo / Puglia

Monday, 29 June 2020

Jeanneret Big Fine Girl Riesling 2019

16:30 Stu.

Riesling is typically regarded as the cash cow of the wine industry, able to get from Vine to bottle in anywhere from around 2-4 months. Not so here, where this example - picked over two days in early March 2019 - spending over 200 days on lees. Strong lime...

2019 / Clare Valley / riesling

Hughes & Hughes Dornfelder 2019

08:27 Stu.

Germany's most widely planted red variety, establishing itself on the Apple Isle via the brothers Hughes. It's mostly whole Berry with a small (5%) amount of whole bunch. It's fresh and youthful, with that rawness of youth coming through on the palate. Yes there's...

2019 / Dornfelder / Tasmania

Sunday, 28 June 2020

Nick O'Leary Riesling 2019

16:30 Stu.

Riesling from the cool of Canberra District in NSW. It opens with notes of florals and browning lime, it feels cooler in its offer and aromatic approach. Palate possesses a zip and zing about it, a citrus zestiness providing the main thrust of flavour in tandem with...

2019 / Canberra District / riesling

Konpira Maru Finca Malbec 2017

08:30 Stu.

Konpira Maru, seemingly based out of Victoria, yet named after a Japanese fishing trawler, and with links to Queensland. As you were. Oh, and this wine was made by the crew in Argentina's Uco Valley in Mendoza. On board? Brambley nose, semblance of fruit....

2017 / Argentina / Malbec / Mendoza

Saturday, 27 June 2020

Gerler Riesling 2019

16:30 Stu.

Slightly different vibe to the Classic Clare profile, undeniably Riesling, yet with something more like a floral and talcum vibe. There's the unmistakable citrus/sherbet hints in the mix. The palate is a racy acidic and zesty number. If anything it feels cooler clime...

2019 / Clare Valley / riesling

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Pemberton Shiraz 2018

08:30 Stu.

Simply a wicked mix of blue and black fruit aromatically. Touch of milky chocolate going about it. The palate is soft and succulent, a fine twist of tannin, more of that pastille like black fruit. Good finish, generous and with a touch of fruit. 89 Tasted...

2018 / Great Southern / Pemberton / Shiraz

Friday, 26 June 2020

Jules Taylor OTQ Sauvignon Blanc 2019

16:30 Stu.

OTQ represents Jules Taylor's slightly out there takes on varieties. This example rendering the Sauv more akin to Chardonnay, touches of new creamy oak and a cream laden palate. On that, it carries some of that vanilla and cashew aspect across the palate. With that...

2019 / Marlborough / New Zealand / Sauvignon Blanc

Feudo Arancio Riserva 2015

08:30 Stu.

Nero d'Avola, from the varieties home in Sicily. Of the finished wine, 30% is aged in steel to preserve the complex character of ripe red fruit, while the remaining 70% ages for 8-10 months in French oak barrels to soften the tannins and to add structure to this elegant...

2015 / Italy / Nero d'Avola / Sicily

Thursday, 25 June 2020

Terre à Terre Down to Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2019

16:30 Stu.

Subtle Gooseberry, underlying passionfruit with a creamy mien - seems to be firming up as the favoured and terroir driven style. Gentle rounded and textural feel on entry - that's not to say it's without the sharp acidity for which the variety can be known. There's...

2019 / Sauvignon Blanc / Wrattonbully

Yangarra Estate Ovitelli Grenache 2018

08:30 Stu.

Ovitelli I suggest being some reference to the 657l ceramic eggs the wine is fermented in - the Portuguese for egg being ovo, variations exist thereof in other countries where Latin forms the major root of the language. I latterly learned it's a is a portmanteau...

#Biodynamic / #Organic / 2018 / grenache / McLaren Vale

Wednesday, 24 June 2020

Feudo Arancio Tinchité Rosé 2019

16:30 Stu.

Delicate berry and floral nose, a subtle pot pourri, nothing overdone. A minerally acidic presence casts its shadow across the palate, drawing with it as it goes a chalky and light berry presence, as if flowing over crushed candies. Good crunch on a generous...

2019 / Frappato / Rosé / Sicily

Blue Pyrenees Richardson Shiraz 2018

08:30 Stu.

Named in honour of former Blue Pyrenees Fine Wine Director, the late Colin Richardson. Sent as a pre-release wine, representing the best parcels of wine to bear the name. Its fermented in a 50/50 mix of American and French oak, balanced across new and first/second...

2018 / Pyrenees / Shiraz

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Hill-Smith Estate Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019

16:30 Stu.

Off an eight hectare vineyard in the Eden Valley, texture being the name of the game, and an intent to tame same of the acidity that the variety can be known for, through use of 1-4 year old oak - plus a small (5%) portion of new. Faint tropicals added to textural...

2019 / Eden Valley / Sauvignon Blanc

Ballandean Generation 3 Shiraz Cabernet 2014

08:30 Stu.

A 6 barrel blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon - 80/20 - from the heralded 2014 vintage that honours the 3 generations of Puglisis that have contributed to what the Ballandean Estate represents today. I too am honoured to have been gifted this wine as...

2014 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Granite Belt / Shiraz

Monday, 22 June 2020

Highgate Chardonnay 2019

20:08 Stu.

Fine cool climate Chardonnay here from Orange in NSW. Opens with requisite stonefruit and a mealy like character. The palate has a nice line of grapefruit acidity, fleshed out with fruit and a touch of toasty oak. It's nicely balanced, poised - nothing over-wrought....

2019 / Chardonnay / Orange

Saturday, 20 June 2020

Gerler The Fog 2019

08:30 Stu.

A blend of Touriga, Montepulciano, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, and Nero d'Avola. Just like the blend from which it's formed, the aromatics are a riot of flavour, drawing from citrus, to juicy red and black Berry. Perhaps the point being not to explicitly state specific aromatic descriptor, but rather to convey the mix of pleasures one derives from this unusual blend. The palate shows more...

Friday, 19 June 2020

Nomad's Garden Skin Contact Field Blend 2019

16:30 Stu.

Nomad's Garden, a sub-brand of El Dorado road, from memory a labour of love to restore a much neglected vineyard in Beechworth, in Vic's NE. This field blend being a Viognier and Marsanne co-ferment. Has that unmistakeable, skinsy (270 days thereon) vibe: Citrus peel,...

2019 / Beechworth / Marsanne / Skin Contact / Viognier

Zonte's Footstep Chocolate Factory Shiraz 2018

08:30 Stu.

Chocolate, grilled hazelnut, latterly opening up to something kirsch - and deep black fruit - like. The black fruit runs deep, sweet accented, with fine - nigh silty - tannins; depth and penetration of flavour that builds with stature. An assured release that...

2018 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wednesday, 17 June 2020

Home Hill Estate Pinot Noir 2018

09:50 Stu.

Such an expressive wine from the off. A somewhat warmer vintage 2018, it has given the wine something of a freedom of expression. Conveying cherry and a suggestive pop of blueberry. It's a sense that continues on the palate, a length of flavour that flows, seemingly...

2018 / pinot noir / Tasmania

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Spinifex Papillon 2019

16:30 Stu.

A double header of sorts, with the 2018 reviewed earlier here. Unsure of the specific blend this vintage so I'll go with what 2018 stated, being Grenache (78%) and Cinsault (22%). Strength seems to be in a fresh and elegant palate intro that soon gives way to a deeper,...

2019 / Barossa Valley / Cinsault / grenache

Spinifex Papillon 2018

08:30 Stu.

Papillon, from the French for butterfly, a Grenache (78%) and Cinsault blend from Pete Schell and Magali Gely, whose family up until recently were vignerons near Montpellier. Pete himself has worked six vintages across Provence, the Languedoc, Bordeaux and Burgundy. Soft...

2018 / Barossa Valley / Cinsault / grenache

Monday, 15 June 2020

Blue Pyrenees Bone Dry Rosé 2019

16:30 Stu.

Predominantly a blend of Pinot Noir (74%), Merlot (19%), Chardonnay and a splash of Pinot Meunier for good measure. Toffee apple, Turkish Delight, gentle hints of strawberry wafting from glass. For that flavour and fruit on aroma, the palate does exactly what it asserts...

2019 / Chardonnay / Merlot / pinot noir / Pyrenees / Rosé

Lenton Brae Lady Douglas Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

08:00 Stu.

Shop wisely and on a dozen buy you can find this sub-$25 on a dozen buy. Lenton Brae of Wilyabrup, the soon to be declared sub-region of Margaret River, the heart of the region and just off the arterial Caves Road. Quasi-medical references not lost on me with...

2018 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Margaret River

Sunday, 14 June 2020

Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2019

16:30 Stu.

Luscious ripe pear, almost dripping is how I sense this wine. The palate crisp, minerally, a resurgence of the fruit flowing on a wave of that drive and touch of acidic presence. The finish is of a good length, generous and feeding that fruit with a tinge of...

2019 / Pinot Grigio / Trentino

Taylor's Jaraman Shiraz 2018

08:30 Stu.

Perhaps the least impressive of the Jaraman range tasted, that perhaps says more to the strengths of the others in the range than any deficiencies of this. It offers sufficient black fruit presence, wrapped in a medium bodied presence. Touch of oak, spice, creamy...

2018 / Clare Valley / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Saturday, 13 June 2020

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Pemberton Chardonnay 2019

16:30 Stu.

Deliciously creamy Chardonnay, subtle stonefruit tinges. Creamy and rounded, subtle oak depths. It's a no nonsense offering, barely putting wrong, if perhaps merely treading a safe path. Finishes gently, ebbing along on a good length. 89 Tasted on: Thursday...

2019 / Chardonnay / Great Southern / Pemberton

Angullong Fossil Hill Tempranillo 2018

08:30 Stu.

Sweet spice atop a blue/black fruit medley. The palate shows moderate oak hints, cocoa fine tannin structure. Charcuterie like nuances linger. A decent Temp. 90 Tasted on: Friday 10th April Source: Sample Price: $28 Alcohol: 14.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: https://www.angullong.com.au/ Follow...

2018 / Orange / Tempranillo

Friday, 12 June 2020

Yangarra Roux Beaute Roussanne 2018

16:30 Stu.

Single block wine, hand picked. Half of which was destemmed and sent off to 675l ceramic eggs, on skins for 193 days. Final blend of the finished wine was 40% of the batch on skins and 60% of the other half of the batch. As you'd expect from the final make up...

#Biodynamic / #Organic / 2018 / McLaren Vale / Roussanne

Schwartz Wine Co. Rosé 2019

08:30 Stu.

A wine destined to remain in the memory, for it was my first wedding anniversary - in lockdown. Thank goodness that I was able to access this from the local wine store and celebrate an amazing year. Pouring a very attractive onion skin colour, a touch of translucent...

2019 / Barossa Valley / grenache / Mataro et al / Rosé

Thursday, 11 June 2020

Taylor's Jaraman Chardonnay 2018

16:30 Stu.

The Unison of Margaret River and Adelaide Hills fruit. Creamy presentation, ripe and dripping stonefruit, citrus hints, deeper touch of figgy like oak. There's a toast and spice aspect that immediately greets on the palate, providing a spike of intensity that gently...

2018 / Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay / Margaret River

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Pemberton Pinot Noir Rosé 2019

08:30 Stu.

Silkwood Estate Winemaker Michael Ng originally knew more about data centre racks than racking wine off, originally having complete a Bachelor of Information systems before subsequently undertaking a viticultural science degree. This Pinot based Rosé is a...

2019 / Pemberton / pinot noir / Rosé

Wednesday, 10 June 2020

Feudo Arancio Inzolia 2019

16:30 Stu.

Citrus, stonefruit, and the kernel to boot! Fragrant, with an underlying minerally hint that adds a harder edge to softness of the fruit. A more savoury edge, slight fruit tinge, touch of honey and citrus. Reminds more of something like Marsanne - certainly textural,...

2019 / Inzolia / Italy / Sicily

Harvest Syrah 2019

08:30 Stu.

Harvest is a range of wines by Brendan and Laura Carter (AKA Unico Zelo) in collaboration with growers, where profits are split 50/50 between producer and grower. Pouring a vibrant purple, a leading indicator to what may be ahead. The palate soft and succulent,...

2019 / Adelaide Hills / Syrah

Tuesday, 9 June 2020

Yangarra Roussanne 2019

16:30 Stu.

Stonefruit, hints of mace like spice providing a tickle to the nasal cavity. The palate is that veluptuously textured feel, nigh suede like - or peached cotton - in how it gently brushes across the same. Carrying weight, substance, yet still brimming with a thin vein...

2019 / McLaren Vale / Roussanne

Gartelmann Georg Petit Verdot 2016

08:30 Stu.

Often the bridesmaid, never the bride - except here, in this ripe and robust offering from Rylstone - an unofficial sub-region of Mudgee region. Petit Verdot is often considered the 'bridesmaid' of what might be considered the Bordeaux varieties. Here it's...

2106 / Mudgee / Petit Verdot

Monday, 8 June 2020

Terre à Terre Summertown Vineyard 2018

19:30 Stu.

Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir from the hand of Xavier Bizot. It's of an exquisite perfume, firmer and fuller Pinot from a warmer year, representing as sour cherry and plum, with a trickle of spice bolstering the wine. It feels fuller, creamy in the way it evolves across...

2018 / Adelaide Hills / pinot noir

Sunday, 7 June 2020

Hastwell and Lightfoot Fiano 2019

16:30 Stu.

Hastwell and Lightfoot have nailed the texture on these whites (there's a Vermentino too), feeling quite quite slippery across the palate, without being overwrought or excessively unctuous. There's a touch of balancing acidity on the backbone too. Aromatics...

2019 / Fiano / McLaren Vale

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