Bremerton Special Release Malbec 2013

Florals, black fruits of the forest, a touch of almond paste and sweet paprika on opening. A lovely perfume - something for which the variety can be renowned.

Nice weight on entry: soft, medium body - that's before the fruit kicks in and the onset of some firmer tannin. Black fruit, anise, a little fenugreek perhaps.

Dusty, length wavers, tannin pulls through - interesting, certainly enjoyable. They're onto something here those Willson sisters. 91

Tasted on: Monday 2nd March, a Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.bremerton.com.au/

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

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2010

Cherry, tobacco and cocoa - mix of aromas on show here. Smokey, rolling tobacco - not sure which brand - show up as secondary aromatics.

Lovely medium bodied wine: fine tannin, modicum of acid, more tobacco and leafy notes. Ultra-fine body - feels classy, good quality wine.

Evenness through the finish, even flow - thoughts arrive like butterflies - unforced. Take notice of this classy individual, a very good wine. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 26th February, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.leeuwinestate.com.au/

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

Down to Earth Cabernets Shiraz 2013

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz (55/17/28% respectively). The Cabernets spent time in a in a 3-4 year old 4000L foudré - a very large barrel.

Cedar, dried herb with lovely fruit mix adding to the package: plum skins, mulberry and perhaps a little black cherry.

Squarely medium of body, carries that interplay of fruit and savoury characteristics - the latter: cedary, dried herb and touch of bright acidity for additional freshness. Sensitive oak handling allows the fruit to shine and the firm tannin to make its presence felt.

You'll happily sup away on this in a year or two's time. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 26th February, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: terreaterre.com.au

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

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

Foggy Hill is a site that I yearn to visit. I've only taken the Southward drive down the Fleurieu coast the once, but I simply love that coastal drive, the child-like rolling hills that simply form, one into the other. I'll get there one day. Until then, I'm highly appreciative of the opportunity to see what the site can produce.

Harvested two weeks earlier than 'normal' - although I am unsure what normal is anymore - stated to be 0.3% degrees lower in alcohol and $2 cheaper than the 2012 edition.

Sap and stem are still familiar components on the nose. Less forward, less of the prune and liqueur, instead I see it as the sweetness of new growth, a little muscovado sweetness that makes way for a little dried herb as the wine opens up.

Spice, sweet oak; nicely weighted - touch of textural nuance here. Silken, rounded out feel on the palate -  red berry fruit carrying long strands of elegant tannin. A different wine to the '12 for sure, no monoculture here. 92+

Tasted on: Monday 23rd February, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $49
Alcohol: 13.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: tapanappa.com.au

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

Lowe Headstone Primitivo Rosé 2014

So the story goes....as a flying winemaker back in the 90s, David Lowe was awarded the title of Rosé of the Year by the Times of London in both 1992 and 1993. Lowe has been known to quip: "There’d be worse things than being remembered for making the best Rosé in the world…. But not much. Imagine your headstone being inscribed ‘Maker of the World’s Best Rosé".

From a - certified - organic block on the Lowe property in Mudgee. A lovely pale salmon with copper hues. Opens with toffee apple, strawberry and a touch of dry-tart cranberry.

Dry, savoury - chalky phenolics and crunchy acid. But it's those phenolics that - for me - define the wine. Needs food, the right kind too - I matched it with some red meat that masked the delicate flavours and phenolics. Try something like a tuna salad.

Tasted on: Thursday 26th February, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 11.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.lowewine.com.au/

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

Montalto The Eleven Chardonnay 2013

"A-won't you take me to Funkytown?

Won't you take me to Funkytown?"

~ Lipps Inc, Funkytown

Some lovely funky AKA struck-match complexity on display here - something that may not appeal to all. Winemaking on the edge, skillfully navigated by winemaker Simon Black. Florals, lemon, grapefruit - a suggestion perhaps of some melon in the aromatic medley.

Light, a wine that bounces around the palate - finesse, fragility - good focal precision and balance, pinpoint acidity and guiding length. It's undoubtedly a quality release. It commands your attention.

Possesses length in spades - you carry on tasting long after you've consumed, a sign of the quality inputs into this wine. 94

Tasted on: Sunday 22nd February, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $55
Alcohol: 12.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://montalto.com.au/

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

Hervé Souhaut Vin des Pays l'Ardeche Syrah 2013

Domaine Romeaux-Destezet was founded by Hervé Souhaut in 1993. Hervé has holdings across both the Northern Rhone and Southern l'Ardeche. Souhaut follows the principles of leading natural wine advocates, Jules Chauvet - whole bunches, utilising carbonic maceration at low temps, wild yeasts etc. 

Souhaut seeks "to extract a delicate balance of tannins from the grapes, to make a wine with subtlety and finesse" - the Syrah is a wine I've longed to taste

Initially bright, berry driven aromatics - the carbonic ferment there; with time - lavender, cassis, violets - background hints of char, bacon fat and perhaps even a little ash. It's inviting, pretty, for me - something I wanted to drink and savour.

Plum skins, black fruit, ever-so-sligh rub of tannin, the tang of a little sour fruit - juicy, more-ish. Again, something I wanted to consume - with gusto. With time, you see a touch more of that Rhone pan juice and meat.

It's a wine to drink - not classically 'great' in the critical sense, or of a length to consider the same. It's a compelling drinking proposition - and a beautifully proportioned one at a mere 11.3%. Drink I did. 90

Tasted on: Friday 20th February, a Flower day
Source: Retail, Craft Red Hill
Price: $65
Alcohol: 11.3%
Website: Importer

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