Wirra Wirra Mrs Wrigley Rosé 2020

Wirra Wirra Mrs Wrigley Rosé 2020

  16:30    Stu.

---

Kiss of berry fruit on the nose, soft and succulent, by way of strawberry and a touch of raspberry. 

Flowing through onto the palate, with a crisp delight, that both arrests the fruit flavour and aroma, yet also seeks to allow the same to gently tug along the finish. 

There's certainly a carry of flavour here, gently persistent on a quietly generous finish. 92 

Tasted on: Wednesday 26th August 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.wirrawirra.com

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

Read More

Highgate Shiraz 2016

Highgate Shiraz 2016

  08:30    Stu.

---

Subtle hints of char, offsetting deep and dense plum and mulberry fruit. 

Mudgee is known - rather, renowned - for its deep and flavoursome wines, this no exception. 90 

Tasted on: Wednesday 29th July 
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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

Read More

Entropy Wines Chardonnay 2019

Entropy Wines Chardonnay 2019

  16:30    Stu.

---

Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay, rich and powerful from the off. There's a slight saline and reductive note, more so than the presence of fruit. 

The palate is variously - and impressively - creamy, toasty, flinty and on a saline length. Add in a touch of phenolics that are well judged, adding to that overall impression of power and depth. 

Green apple and citrus wrap up on the finish, yet for all that flavour and assertion it still gives an impression of delicacy and balance. Australian Chardonnay is in such an interesting place right now. 96 

Tasted on: Tuesday 18th August 
Source: Retail
Price: $45
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: DIAM
Website: https://www.entropywines.com/

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

Read More

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2018

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2018

  08:30    Stu.

---

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Shiraz (37%) and a small addition of Cabernet Franc (1%) in mainly old oak (79%), the balance being new. 

Palate presence wins this one out, classy tannin profile as ever, fine and with a mouth coating presence. It's for the long haul, the presence and sustain long across the palate. 

In need of a good decant, or ideally stint in the cellar, it takes a while for the aromatics to unfurl. Slowly, they do, yielding blackcurrant with a smokey, graphite like profile. 

Latterly black peppercorn makes itself known. Superbly structured is perhaps how best described. Pop it away for at least five years is my recommendation, then settle in for a masterclass in the power of the quintessential Aussie blend. 94 

Tasted on: Thursday 3rd September 
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://terreaterre.com.au/

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

Read More

Yangarra Blanc 2020

Yangarra Blanc 2020

  16:30    Stu.

---

Pretty much a first in Australia, from what I can ascertain, being a take on a Southern Rhone/ CNDP white blend. Some very interesting varieties here. The blend in question being: Grenache Blanc 62%, Clairette 10%, Roussanne 17%, Picpoul 8%, Borboulenc 3%.

White florals, subtle herbal inflections, hints of green apple. The palate is magic, a touch honeyed, balancing great texture and acidity, the latter natural, and the former aided by fermentation in 675l ceramic eggs and older French oak. 

Maturation in the same vessels plus regular stirring building a palate of interest and complexity. 92 

Tasted on: Saturday 5th September, a Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $27
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.yangarra.com/

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

Read More

Gartelmann Wines Diedrich Shiraz 2016

Gartelmann Wines Diedrich Shiraz 2016

  08:30    Stu.

---

Orange representing for Hunter Valley based Gartelmann Wines,  and its 2016 release of the Diedrich; Diedrich being the Grandfather of Jorg Gartelmann. 

Seemingly thick set wine, purely on aromatic intro. It's a heady mix of fruit, supplemented with oak in the mix. 

It's a typical pattern for the Diedrich, one that works well, offering both an invitational aspect and serving well over a ten to fifteen year time frame in the cellar. 

Powder fine tannin, an assertion across the back palate by way of freshening acidity, hiding the heft of its 15%. A well executed wine. 93 

Tasted on: Sunday 9th August 
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 15.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.gartelmann.com.au/

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

Read More

Brave New Wine Magical Animal Chardonnay 2019

Brave New Wine Magical Animal Chardonnay 2019

  16:30    Stu.

---

A Single Vineyard Chardonnay from Porongurup in Western Australia's Great Southern. 

Has that mealy vibe, generous in its offer, hints of grilled stonefruit. Complexity to boot, adding grilled nuts, a drizzle of citrus too. 

The palate is a riot too, a crackle of spice and something like a buttery popcorn, remnants of oak adding depth. It's lavish, layered and possessing an intensity and power of flavour that's seemingly perpetual. 

It literally unfurls in the glass before your eyes. A truly multi-faceted wine. Quite exceptional. 95

Tasted on: Monday 17th August 
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.bravenewwine.com.au/

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

Read More