November 2021 ~ The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

Friday, 26 November 2021

Jacob's Creek Double Barrel Chardonnay 2020

16:30 Stu.

Figgy kind of Chardonnay here, suggestion of citrus.Palate shows more of a nutty, marzipan and spice character - that could be the secondary influence of the whisky barrels. Regardless, there's an appealing nature - even an offer of orange peel - to this wine. Perhaps not...

2020 / Chardonnay

Patina Pinot Noir 2018

08:30 Stu.

Even at 3y of age it still feels youthful and primary. Berry fruit with a slight sour edge lurking beneath.It's light on entry - yet with a soft, sensuous and pillowy approach through the middle of the wine. A line of cool climate acidity threads its way across, forming...

2018 / Orange / pinot noir

Thursday, 25 November 2021

Harewood Estate Porongurup Riesling 2021

16:00 Stu.

Lemongrass, citrus, an undercurrent of salinity sitting gently beneath. The delicate fragrance not quite in tune for a Riesling packing a punch and tang of flavour. A zest and minerality performs a lively dance across the palate, down the spine and through to a fine...

2021 / Great Southern / Porongurup / riesling

Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Yangarra Rosé 2020

16:00 Stu.

Whole berry, basket pressed; wild yeast Ferment, lees maturation and battonage. Rosé shown some love, the Yangarra way. Touch of Turkish Delight and rose petal, softly accented, to entice. Crisp, clipped, has a cool approach - in that it feels punchy...

2020 / grenache / McLaren Vale / Rosé

Monday, 22 November 2021

Blue Pyrenees Bone Dry Rosé 2020

16:00 Stu.

I had to double check that I'd not already reviewed this, for my tasting experiences show Rosés typically tend to be released in the same year as declared vintage, not here it would seem!Strawberry, watermelon, touch of dried herb in the mix.It's dry as, with a wicked crunch...

2020 / Pyrenees / Rosé

Ballycroft Small Berry Mataro 2017

08:30 Stu.

2.1t hand harvested on 20th April 2017. Spending18m in shaved out American oak.The residual oak - from the 18m in re-purposed American - is evident on both the aromatics and across the palate. It feels right, and deep, and with the warmth of its alcohol and oak vessel. Fennel...

2017 / Barossa Valley / Mataro et al

Sunday, 21 November 2021

Tim Adams Riesling 2020

16:30 Stu.

Classic lemons and limes - not you'd expect anything else, or want more in a classic Clare Riesling. More lime across the palate, classic profile, touch of citrus zip, zing and zest - albeit with the dial turned down a touch. Still, refreshment personified. 91Tasted...

2020 / Clare Valley / riesling

Domaines Paul Mas Vignes de Nicole Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2019

08:30 Stu.

Fine and powdery - cocoa like - tannins here; savoury with a smattering of fruit. There’s faint touches of old and drying tobacco, olive skins, and it veers toward to something cocoa like. Seeming somewhat devoid of personality and interest, yet without fault. The...

2019 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Pays d"oc

Saturday, 20 November 2021

Blue Poles Amato Vino Marsanne 2020

16:00 Stu.

Fruit from the Blue Poles 'Osmington' vineyard is whole bunch basket pressed by surf loving winemaker Brad Wehr of Amato Vino. A portion is fermented in amphora, to accentuate the slippery and skinsy feel of the Marsanne. Opens with something like honey drizzled pear,...

Angullong Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

08:30 Stu.

Tasted this some 6m back when it felt somewhat hollow, time has fleshed it out - a wine for the times, when extended Covid isolation has led to more sedentary lifestyles and anecdotal tales of weight gain. I digress. Cedar, Bay, hints of tomato leaf. Chocolate appears...

2016 / Cabernet Sauvignon / Orange

Friday, 19 November 2021

Golden Grove Vermentino 2021

16:00 Stu.

Back to Estate fruit for this vintage. It sees 20% Barrel fermentation left on lees for 2 months and 9% being fermented on full skins for 10 days.A beautifully aromatic wine, florals and with more than a throw of stonefruit in the frame. An initial textural spread...

2021 / Granite Belt / Vermentino

Harewood Estate Denmark Pinot Noir 2021

08:30 Stu.

It's a Pinot in a youthful and fruity vibe, with raspberry, cherry, satsuma plum and a cassis-like air about it.The palate is light, with a delicate chewy complexion. Barely there tannin profile abuts what seems like a spritz adding energy, vitality and length. It's not...

Thursday, 18 November 2021

Chateau Yaldara Moscato NV

15:01 Stu.

Fresh on approach: Subtle rose water, pear and green apple skins. Slight sorbet like zestiness to proceedings. I'd perhaps unfairly - snobbishly - left this in the sample pile.There's a gentle spritz, a certain mid-palate sweetness, a tickle of citrus. The...

Barossa / Moscato / NV

Angullong Fossil Hill Tempranillo 2019

08:30 Stu.

I picked the bottle up, recording the price and stated alcohol - standard practice - and upon seeing its 14.5% wondered where it might sit stylistically in comparison to old world examples. But why? Why would I feel the need to compare an example from a region 10,000 odd...

2019 / Orange / Tempranillo

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

De Bortoli Blue Pinot Gris 2020

16:30 Stu.

I didn't read the accompanying PR at first and expected this to actually be blue with some adjunct. So why blue: as the press release actually states:"Blue evokes feelings of calmness, trust and confidence, paired with the dragonfly and butterfly which symbolise hope,...

2020 / King Valley / Pinot Gris

Yangarra Noir 2019

08:30 Stu.

Grenache, 62%; Mourvedre, 12%; Shiraz, 15%; Carignan, 6%; Cinsault, 3%; Carignan, 6%.A true Southern Rhone blend beyond the usual suspects of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre; each component handled separately, prior to final assemblage. Smells a touch rooty on...

2019 / Carignan / Cinsault / grenache / Mataro et al / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Pizzini Riesling 2021

16:36 Stu.

Riesling was the first variety planted by the Pizzini family back in 1978, serving to remind of their deep and long connection to the region and industry.Pure and nigh glacial, a cool and crisp representation of the variety from the King Valley. There's a subtlety to the...

2021 / King Valley / riesling

Golden Grove Sangiovese 2021

08:30 Stu.

Vibrant and juicy style of Sangiovese here. Unsure what the Sangiovese/ Chianti equivalent of a 'Joven' style is - but I'd offer that this is it personified.!It's delicate, fruit forward and with the merest hint of tannic crunch. It's a loose and 'open weave' style...

2021 / Granite Belt / sangiovese

Monday, 15 November 2021

Alkoomi White Label Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2021

16:27 Stu.

Passionfruit, citrus, rock melon. It's a fruity, tropical number that provides refreshment from the go.Pithy citrus across the palate, touch of bittering in there too - a useful counterpoint. It's really about up front refreshment, not so much through the finish. Will serve...

2021 / Great Southern / Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz 2018

08:30 Stu.

Big and bold, plenty of oak on show too - both French and American, 40% of which is new, the latter seemingly dominating - what more would you want from 'Woodhenge'? For that heft and brawn, it's fairly supple across the palate, initial remnants of oak subside...

2018 / McLaren Vale / Shiraz

Wednesday, 10 November 2021

Pizzini Arneis 2021

16:00 Stu.

Delightfully fragrant example: white florals, stonefruit - and dripping with juice - hint of white pepper in the mix too, somewhat unexpectedly.Light and dry; open, airy and inviting kind of wine with just a powder puff suggestion of grape tannin across the middle. This...

2021 / Arneis / King Valley

Tapanappa Definitus Pinot Noir 2018

08:30 Stu.

For a fuller background description as to the origins of the Definitus, please refer to the 2017 review.A very expressive example from the off. Wonderful aromatics, yet cast that aside and take delight in the sheer power and depth across the palate. Tight and minerally...

2018 / Fleurieu Peninsula / pinot noir

Tuesday, 9 November 2021

Edenflo Lemon Krush 2021

16:00 Stu.

Eden Valley Semillon and Chardonnay with extended skin contact. Creates a lightly cloudy wine, almost lemon barley like in appear. Krushing it. Grapefruit, dried ginger, preserved lemons. Fresh style - yet I'd suggest the palate is where the real excitement is. A textural...

2021 / Chardonnay / Eden Valley / Semillon / Viognier

Dalrymple Cottage Block Pinot Noir 2019

08:30 Stu.

Captivating aromatics: hibiscus, violets - floral and with subtle res/ black/ blue fruit mix.Soft, sensuous, betraying the stated alcohol content. Tannin is fine, structured, with freshening acidity that speaks to both cooler climes and an ability to cellar. The epitome...

Monday, 8 November 2021

Blue Pyrenees Rosé NV

16:30 Stu.

Pale bronze/ copper skinned wine on pour. Bright in glass, light strawberry wafting. Touch of fruit sweetness on taste: strawberry, raspberry - certainly in that red berry spectrum,with red apple skins supplementing. Gentle bubbles cascade across the palate. Balanced,...

Chardonnay / NV / pinot noir / Sparkling

Lambert Estate First Chapter Shiraz 2019

08:30 Stu.

Classic Barossa Shiraz in profile. Deep plum, Mulberry, kiss of oak just there.The palate shows a sweetish fruit profile, firmish grain of tannin and a lick of - well - licorice through the finish. Solid Barossan Shiraz, a crowd pleaser all the way. 90Tasted on: Saturday 28th August Source: Sample Price: $TBC Alcohol: 14.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.lambertestate.com/ Follow me:...

2019 / Barossa Valley / Shiraz

Sunday, 7 November 2021

Huntington Estate Pinot Noir Rosé 2021

16:36 Stu.

Has beautiful visual appeal, I'm sure it would entice on looks alone. It pours a pale dusky pink, the kind seen on a Summer's fading sun.It conveys a floral and confectioner's berry aroma, a sensation that flows onto the palate. It's consistent in its presentation, with...

2021 / Mudgee / pinot noir

Thursday, 4 November 2021

DAOSA Natural Reserve 4th Release NV

21:11 Stu.

This wine made me stand up and pay attention, even now some 48 hours later it continues to haunt me and make me re-appraise it.Initially autolytic characters with wholemeal bread in the frame dominate. Stonefruit, Quince - for those fruit characteristics it throws more...

Adelaide Hills / Chardonnay / pinot noir / Sparkling

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