Break Free Enfant De Lune Syrah 2021

Break Free Enfant De Lune Syrah 2021

  15:26    Stu.

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Single Vineyard wine, fruit from the Frankland River region. 

“Child of the Moon", or born of the moon. Harvested in the cool, by moonlight. Ten days on skins, unfiltered and unfined. Just fermented juice it would appear.

Juicy fruit nose, like the blackcurrant pastille you sucked on as a kid. Subtle baking spice hints, touch of old wood in the frame.

Lithe, supple - not giving any hints to its 14.5% alcohol - with a wicked peppery lick across the length of the wine. It's juicy with a fine grip of subtle tannin, body to the persistent berry driven character present. Fun gear. 91

Tasted on: Wednesday 22nd March
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://clandestinevineyards.com.au/

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Sample Screwcap $ 14.5%

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Téssera Wines Middle Child Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Téssera Wines Middle Child Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

  11:47    Stu.

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McLaren Vale Cabernet is - in my view - an oft overlooked pleasure. Shiraz stands tall, attempts have been made to garner Grenache as the hero variety - and that's without mentioning the strong Italian roots in the region that have seen Montepulciano and Sangiovese championed amongst the reds.

Here, a Cabernet Sauvignon with classic dark chocolate and coffee grounds aromas - those deep and dark compounds slowly reveal blue and black fruits within.

The palate is soft, rounded, approachable - oak tannin remnants married to a resurgence of fruit and associated freshness. Acid works in tandem to deliver a generous length - and satisfaction. Go now to 2028. 92

Tasted on: Sunday 26th February
Source: Sample
Price: $26.66
Alcohol: 14.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://tesserawines.com.au/

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Mayfield Vineyard Backyard Riesling 2022

Mayfield Vineyard Backyard Riesling 2022

  12:45    Stu.

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It's been a while between drinks from Mayfield. This the first of a trio of reviews from the label since acquisition by the Eastham family in 2021.

Expressive Riesling from the Orange region: passionfruit, sour apples, suggestion of under-ripe banana in the mix too.

Soft on entry, soon yielding to a vibrant, minerally acidity giving energy and length.

Limes and kaffir leaf lead to thoughts of spicy Thai on hot days. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 16th February
Source: Sample
Price: $34
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.mayfieldvineyard.com.au/

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Cellier des Dauphins Les Dauphins Côte du Rhone Rosé 2020

Cellier des Dauphins Les Dauphins Côte du Rhone Rosé 2020

  16:00    Stu.

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Strawberry and husk, a little watermelon and rind.

Textural with a slightly broader palate profile. Citrus running fresh across the finish. Flash of fresh herb in the frame too. A pleasing, somewhat no-nonsense style of Rosé. 88

Tasted on: Saturday 29th October
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Huntington Estate Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

  09:24    Stu.

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I had the opportunity to re-appraise this at the Huntington Winemaker's Lunch (a great event if you get the chance - disclosure, I have been fortunate to be invited as a guest of the winery on occasion).

On that second tasting, it was reinforced how it is so a wine of depth, of dark black and red fruit sitting on a dense palate with firm tannins.

The Special Reserve is very much a denser and darker manifestation of Cabernet - at least on this showing - within the Huntington portfolio. 

There's a richness too, almost veering toward something that in youth might be considered a balsamic edge. Deep and dense, as though to reflect the rich Mudgee soil, free of the artifice that can be afflicted through excessive oak. 

The palate shows a freshness, a pleasant change of direction at odds to the initial depths that are explored across the palate. For all that, it's certainly assured of a life ahead of it. 94

Tasted on: Sunday 30th October
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://huntingtonestate.com.au/

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Lapis Luna Zinfandel 2020

Lapis Luna Zinfandel 2020

  14:34    Stu.

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Char and toast, bold aromas, certainly not subtle. It's Zinfandel - a staple of Northern California,

here  specifically the North Coast/Mendocino region, the wine sees a mix of French and American oak, a small portion (10%) new.

A lightness on the palate, sweeter edged - showing its alcohol for sure against firm tannins. Reasonable length, but it feels a little unsettled and I'm not convinced it's going to improve beyond where it's at.

For those that love them fuller in profile - go now for up to three years. 88

Tasted on: Tuesday 18th October
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14.9%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Harewood Estate Great Southern Riesling 2022

Harewood Estate Great Southern Riesling 2022

  08:29    Stu.

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This is the entry level Riesling from Harewood Estate - a producer that explores a range of sub-regional Riesling to such excellence.

Lime pith, green melon, a floral note - steely reserve under that initial aromatic introduction.

Quite austere, yielding little. There's a length and generosity of intent - but hard to nail its colours to the mast when I find such expression elsewhere in the range. 90+

Tasted on: Friday 28th October
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://harewood.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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