The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

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Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Murray Street Vineyards Viognier Marsanne 2010

  14:25    

A 60/40 blend respectively, the wine is a representation of its constituent parts.  Aromatically of Viognier: apricot, peach and a touch of honeysuckle.  It's pretty and very approachable.

The palate, in contrast, shows quite a 'nutty' entry - the Marsanne presenting itself - with weight, texture, phenolic characters and a mineral edge.  This segues to a slight citrus tinged, gently acidic finish.

Refreshing and approachable, to the uninitiated the contrast between the two components may be a little confronting.  Check out Wine Buzz Team tasting the wine at Murray Street's Cellar Door here (about 4m20s in).

Source: Good Food & Wine Show
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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Sunday, 27 November 2011

Rusty Mutt Shiraz 2006

  08:21    

By day, 'Rusty Mutt' is a 20 year career employee, now Senior Winemaker, for an eponymous named Jimmy Watson winning, cricket loving winemaker/ winery.  

5 years back, the Rusty Mutt label was born with this release. On the nose an immediate whiff of sweet scented oak framing up some good fruit provides an indication of what lies within.  Entry shows a wine that's more medium than full bodied, clean and silken - it's rather easy to drink.  

On the finish there's some firm tannin that delivers a little lick of liquorice at it's conclusion.  Well made, good quality.  

My only criticism would be that it is a little simple, but for a well balanced wine of easy drinkability it works.

Source: Sample
Price: $140 per 6 pack
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://rustymutt.com.au/

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Thursday, 24 November 2011

Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre 2002

  09:43    

"Making this wine is not a challenge,
it's a humbling experience"
- Dean Hewitson, CEO & Winemaker, Hewitson Wines 

Made from eight rows of Mourvèdre, reputed to be oldest of the variety in the world, approaching 160 years now.  Dry grown, all original - no replants.  From the Rowland Flat sub-region of the Barossa Valley, situated in the perfect soil for Mataro: deep sand over Limestone.  It's quite amazing to comprehend that this wine is a living link to the origins of settlement of the Barossa Valley and its wine industry.  It seems that it's only now that old vine material is starting to be truly appreciated.  The Barossa Valley has an old vine charter, these vines fall into the top tier of Ancestor Vines.

2002 was the first year that Hewitson placed the wine into 100% new French oak.  Now approaching ten years of age, this wine is hitting it's straps.  Herb, tobacco and leather abound initially.  Given some time, some perfume shows itself.  The palate is earthen, there's more tobacco and leather.  More than this, the wine shows incredible depth.  Yes it's a touch raisiny, but it's rustic charm more than compensates for this.

The spice starts to build early on in the mid-palate, continues, providing a focal length through the middle.  Tannin is dry and chalky.  There's a fair burst of heat present, initially distracting, it soon fades into the background.  Over the course of the evening the wine softens a little, yielding some coffe-ish notes - Camp Coffee Essence.  The overwhelming memory is of that length.  Quite a remarkable wine, both in the context of a single variety wine and also given its historical significance.

Source: Retail, Cru Bar
Price: $75 ($45 on release)
Alcohol: 16%
Closure: Cork

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Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Nepenthe Pinot Gris 2011

  18:39    

There's a bit of care that goes into the making of this wine: hand picked, whole bunch pressed, and even some use of one to two year old oak to provide additional complexity.

Ticks the right aromatic aromatic boxes with varietal pear, blossom and florals. But for me, that's where it seemed to end.  Nice fuller textured palate as befits the style and aforementioned winemaking techniques.  Thereafter clean and rather straightforward.

Crisp and clean in the finish.  Drink, don't ponder.

Source: Sample
Price: $19.99
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.nepenthe.com.au/

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Monday, 21 November 2011

Barossa Muster 'M' Mataro 2007

  14:41    

The winery weren't initially sure what to call the wine, opting for 'M' as its name and consequently using each of Mataro, Monastrell and Mourvèdre on the label.

Damp earth, kirsch, a hint of cassis.  Smooth, rounded, plump pillow feel in the mouth; fruit in the body set against the inherent richness of the Mataro.  Beyond the plush mouthfeel, some hazelnutty chocolate.  Lacks a little breadth and depth on the palate  - but this can be overlooked given its inherent drinkability.  

Finish shows spice, there's a touch of heat - '07 was a scorcher - but it soon dissipates, this sun lover able to handle it.  Spice resumes normal duties, rounding out in the mouth.  Not a linear length per se, but certainly persistent of finish.  Fine tannin seeing you home.

Source: Retail, Cru Bar
Price: $27
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap

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Sunday, 20 November 2011

Tempus Two Copper Series Sauvignon Blanc 2011

  15:20    

I'm not a huge Savvy fan, but there are a few producers doing interesting things with the variety like Mitchell Harris, Nepenthe and now Tempus Two.

Eschewing standard tank fermentation, they've opted to go 100% French Oak fermentation to create this Savvy with a full, textured, creamy palate, the latter achieved with regular stirring of lees.  Aromatics are in the tropical fruit spectrum, guava and peeled lychee; a hint of mineral present too.

The finish carries the tropical fruit with a decent line of minerality.  Touch of acid on the end but overall, for me, it finishes a touch sweet. Still an interesting wine and an alternative to the bog standard savalanche that only now is showing some signs of abating on retailers shelves.

Source: Sample
Price: $19.99
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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BK Wines Cult Syrah 2010

  07:52    

I've written up some notes from previous tastings of BK wines here and here, including this wine. 

This wine is BK's nod to Crozes-Hermitage, an homage to Crozes-Hermitage if you wish.  Hand harvested, de-stemmed but whole berry.  Pumped over once a day to deliver a wine of darkness with a purple rimmed edge.  

Black fruits: plum, blackcurrant and a touch of liquorice present themselves with a backdrop of smoky bacon fat.  Medium bodied, the fruit flows through to the palate with more of that smoky note coming through.  

Excellent depth, combining fruit and pervasive spice.  Excellent harmony and a wine that's a product of both place, with the deep rich black quartz soils adding to the wine; the 20% new oak (French and Hungarian) allowing the fruit to shine, the latter adding some natural spice to the equation.

Source: Retail, Spiros Paddington
Price: $27
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Diam
Website: http://bkwines.com.au/

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