The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

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This Australian wine blog was formerly known as thewinewankers.com

I'm a wine drinker, and this blog is about wine, not just Australian wine.

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Sunday, 15 May 2011

Pepper Tree Wrattonbully Pinot Gris 2010

  13:19    

The wine offers varietal correctness, with aromatic and textural interest. Fairly linear in overall profile; aromas of pear, florals - a slight perceived creaminess.  Textural, plump fruit with some spice.  

Varietal creamy, oily, unctuous palate.  of moderate length, a modicum of spice travelling a line that terminates mid-length.

Source: Someone left it in the fridge
Price: $22
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.peppertreewines.com.au/

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Mike Press Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2009

  13:08    

Ignore the price, enjoy the wine.  Find some - it's sold out ex-winery - enjoy a couple of bottles now, but enjoy it in five years time.

Beautiful perfume of sweet American Oak; mulberries, black fruits and a touch of cola.  Smooth, velvet glove-like palate.  This slides around the palate.  Acid - perfectly pitched against the presence of oak.  Mike Press is a product of Penfolds and is unashamedly a fan of the use of American oak.

The finish demonstrates a mocha-ish note, but the wine's success lies in its persistence of flavour.  It looks simply stunning over a number of days.


Source: Retail, Purvis Cellars
Price: $12.50
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.mikepresswines.com.au/

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Peppertree Coquun Shiraz 2009

  12:52    

A wine that benefits from some extended time in glass.  At first generous oak floods the palate and suppresses much of the goodness present.  Be patient, it's firmly rewarded.

Black cherries, touch of Cherry Ripe, primary fruit up front.  Even a detection of Cherry Cola; la-la-lola.  Medium bodied, generous clove accented spice; fine tannin balanced against good acids.

Exquisite you could say.  A keeper.  Sometimes it pays to be virtuous.

Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap

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Scarborough Wine Co. 2007 Shiraz

  12:40    

Catching up, rather belatedly, on some enticing Hunter Shiraz received as part of the #HunterWine taste 'n' tweet in March.

Ignoring the hullabaloo that ensued in some parts around that tasting, to the subject in hand.  Garnet in colour, softer edges - exhibiting some signs of development; clear in the glass. Initially notes of tobacco, oak influence - tertiary notes.  Over 2-3 three days red berry fruits shining through.  Altogether a touch denser/ heavier than some Hunter Shiraz I'd been looking at.

That said, it was still medium bodied and showed that confident smoothness of palate that had been fairly consistent through the tasting.  Lacking a touch of acid for me - it settled into a groove over opening.  Exhibiting oak derived characteristics - it is matured in French Oak of various ages for 18 months - on the finish.  Slightly short of a length, though this is more than compensated with some integrated oak and tannin.

Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.scarboroughwine.com.au/

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Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Lucy Margaux Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir 2010

  07:23    

Polarising wines these. Good aromatics initially present themselves - richly scented red berries, Cherry and some stalky aromas. Entry doesn't deliver what one expects from the nose: it's lighter, earthen and a touch nutty - some might say like its maker.

My personal preference would have been for there to have been a touch of primary fruit present, which for me the body was lacking. That said, the finish was persistent, driven by some good acid.

Source: Retail, The Wine Emporium
Closure: Diam
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.8% 

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Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Sons of Eden Kennedy GSM 2009

  13:46    



From 50+ year old Grenache vines off of a Light Pass vineyard comes this GSM (45/40/15%) from Sons of Eden.

A medium bodied palate with a deftness that follows from an entry of dense, dark, black fruit aromas. The finish is savory, a touch of licorice, a burst of spice. The spice makes the finish for me: radiating out to fill the mouth, leaving a lasting memory of what came before. Gloriously morish, a snip at the price.

Source: Retail, The Wine Emporium
Price: $22
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%

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Monday, 9 May 2011

Yangarra Estate Vineyard McLaren Vale Old Vine Grenache 2008

  12:56    

From vines planted in 1946 comes this Grenache from McLaren Vale. Deep intense red berry fruit - a touch of black Cherry - leads to a welcoming, buxom, big, ripe palate.

The finish: gloriously smooth, a "velvet curtain of tannin". Good acid, but it's all in check. Balanced. Impressive.

Source: Retail, The Wine Emporium
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.8%
Price: $28

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