The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

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Sunday, 10 June 2012

Murray Street Vineyards Black Label Marsanne 2011

  14:27    

What Jerry McGuire really wanted to say in the film of the same name was: "show me the texture" and he'd have no doubt been talking about blends or varietal wines made from "White Rhone" grape varieties.  This Marsanne from the Barossa's Murray Street Vineyards is one such example that will challenge the fruit-ophiles and score a win for team texture.

A slight honeyed note, with some honeysuckle, delicate florals, toasted pine nut and a hint of flaked almond.  Clean profile in the mouth, good acid with a hint of spiced pear.  I just love the textural nuttiness on these kind of wines.

Comes with good length, combination of acid and texture, working in unison, weaving their magic to deliver.  Match with Moroccan chicken tagine.  88 - Good.
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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Friday, 8 June 2012

A.Retief Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2011

  10:35    

A blend of 70% Canberra Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Hilltops Semillon.  A good Bordeaux blanc style, barrel work evident on the nose, supporting peach, honeydew melon, with fresh accents of lemon.  All up, a good intro.

Clean entry, feathered textural feel - by which the wine spreads across the palate - good texture.  Touch of weight too, acid channeling the wine, inducing salivation.  Clean, fresh, more-ish - a wine I readily went back to.  Great with some simple grilled fish.  89 - Good.

Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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Bimbadgen NV Sparkling

  10:30    

Wafting out of the glass comes a citrus tinged note, lemon sherbet pervading the nasal passage.  Lively, sweet - very sweet - sherbet palate with the joy and spritz of youth.

Refreshing and inoffensive.  You'll have to like it on the sweet side, but armed with this knowledge, dive in head-first.  86 - Average

Source: Sample
Price: $16
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Cork

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Thursday, 7 June 2012

Geddes Experimental Mataro 2010

  20:28    

On opening, this was like Spinal Tap meets Metallica's 'Black Album' - all black, and peppery with szechuan spice, twisty licorice, pepper, black molasses.  Yet like hardcore fans of the latter band with that offering, you could possibly be disappointed for it didn't seem to go on from there.

It promised much, yet didn't deliver what it had initially indicated it would do.  Day 1 it was a dark fruited mix with hints of tar and licorice. The palate was slick, schmick, doffing its bowler hat to Grenache with some hints of juicy, gummy fruit - ably supported by some fine drying tannin.

Beyond that it retreated into itself.  It held up over 4 days, just a shade of its former promise.  88 - Good It's good, just drink on day one.
Source: Gift
Price: $?
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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Tuesday, 5 June 2012

d'Arenberg Twentyeight Road Mourvédre 2004

  20:18    

At 8 years of age this 'Fleurieu' Mourvédre from d'Arenberg, comprising 60% McLaren Vale fruit and 40% Langhorne Creek, is looking pretty good.  Still throwing some hallmark Mataro fruit character: sour cherry and heady plum.  Coupled with secondary character that comes with age, darker black olive tapenade, old wood, some damp earthen character and cured meats.

Entry shows a wine smooth, yet also fairly solid, it has a touch of weight to it, ably supported by raspy, sandy tannin.  Spice is evident, pepper and cinnamon betwixt some red fruit character - the classic battle you often see with Mataro, the tussle betwen fruit and savoury/ spice characteristics.

Fantastic length, the core of spice wrapped around a conveyor belt of tannin.  There's still some lift left in it, 3-4 years in the cellar perhaps, if opened you'd want to consume it straight away.  Available as a cellar release from d'Arenberg and select retailers, under cork - the Gods were on-side this time.  91 - Very Good


Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Cork

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Monday, 4 June 2012

Yalumba Organic Viognier 2011

  10:30    

Opened a couple of Viognier from Yalumba - Australia's pre-eminent, and pioneering, Viognier producer.  Here's the first note: on opening smells a little like a ferment kicking off with CO2 and bready, yeasty character.  Give little time - and you'll see a little creamy, honeyed citrus, suggestions of flaked almond too.

There's little in the way of overt Apricot that Viognier is often so redolent of - a background suggestion perhaps, with a little marzipan.

It's clean, honey and honeysuckle, good acid - suggestion of floral.  Little by way of textural interest.  the finish carries a hint of phenolic, raspy ginger.  Enjoy now. 87 - Good
Source: Sample
Price: $18.95 RRP
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.yalumba.com

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Sunday, 3 June 2012

Clovely Estate 'Left Field' Barbera 2010

  10:35    

Clovely Estate is Queensland's largest producer.  Based out of the South Burnett, they are also one of a handful of wineries to open - and succssfully maintain - a city based Cellar Door.  Their 'Left Field' range, showcases slightly more alternative grape varieties - such as this Barbera.

Barbera has its home in Piedmont - 'foot of the mountain' - in Italy's North-West, although it is widely planted elsewhere in Italy.  Can be either young, fruity and cherry fresh; alternatively it can show up as dark and serious.

This example is black in colour, a contrast to the bright, vibrant juicy - nigh polished cherry - aroma from within.  A clean, juicy, soft and rounded palate.  It's fresh with good acidity - as expected from the variety - perfect for cutting through rich tomato based sauces, or pairing well with pizza.  There's a lovely little aniseed twist on the end too.

Generous peak of acid at the conclusion, if a little short on length - one for enjoyment now.  That said the acid likely to soften over time and allow for some complexity to develop, suggest 3-5 years.  Enjoy.  88 - Good

Source: Cellar Door
Price: $20
Alcohol: 14.2%
Closure: Screwcap

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