The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

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Thursday, 5 September 2013

Bakkheia Different Drummer Sauvignon Blanc 2012

  21:26    


"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, 
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer"

The above quote comes from Henry Thoreau and Bakkheia took the Different Drummer to label their Fume Sauvignon Blanc, as it was the first white wine they had made.

 Opens with hints of lemon balm, a gentle underlying hint of tropical fruit, some aromatic herb: lemongrass, lemon basil. It doesn't shout like Sauvignon Blanc can, it gently states its case.

 Nicely textured. A little creamy lemon courses its way around the palate, delivering a mineral hint with a gentle pinch of acid, tickle of spice. Texture and a smokey hint flow through, finish moderate, fading gently. Gentle an apt descriptor here, the wine fine and balanced. 88

 Tasted on: Thursday 5th September, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $14
Alcohol: 12.4%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.bakkheia.com.au/

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Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Redbank Sunday Morning Pinot Gris 2012

  10:32    

"Sunday morning I'm waking up
Can't even focus on a coffee cup
Don't even know who's bed I'm in
Where do I start, where do I begin"

Chemical Brothers ~ Where Do I Begin?

Touches of honey, 'golden' notes, of warm Spring sunshine. Floral notes with a hint of melon and spice. 

 Weighty palate, lovely texture and width - spiced too with hints of mineral. Fleshy pear and lemon fruit, open and loose with a structure to carry it. Good length here, again the length helps mark this out as a good example. Happy to drink this any day of the week - not just Sunday. 89

Tasted on: Tuesday 3rd September, a Leaf Day
Source: Sample
Price: $24.95
Alcohol: 
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.redbankwines.com/

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Redbank Long Paddock Pinot Gris 2011

  10:31    

Opens with a creaminess, flashes of mashed raw banana with some ripe pear character. Moderate aromatics. The palate is fairly neutral, offering suggestions of pear and apple, little by way of discerning flavour.

 Spice forms the predominant palate element, which leads well into the finish. Well put together, just seems a tad wanting, little too excite. 85

 Tasted on: Tuesday 3rd September, a Leaf Day
Source: Sample
Price: $12.95
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.redbankwines.com/LongPaddock

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Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Lerida Estate Pinot Grigio 2012

  22:10    

Good Grigio this I thought. Showing nashi pear, honeysuckle - a delightfully fragrant little thing - all backed up with a little citrus.

Crisp, punchy acid in the middle, tart pear and a little spice mix things up a little. A little more weight here, possibly more than one might expect, touch of width to boot.

Length is good, generous, takes it up into an upper echelon of quality. Combination of acid and spice working their magic to take things on. Good Grigio. 91


Tasted on: Tuesday 3rd September, a Leaf Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $25 
Alcohol: 11.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.leridaestate.com.au/

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Monday, 2 September 2013

La Curio McLaren Vale Reserve Shiraz 2010

  21:09    


"The Raphael of wine" is how I have heard La Curio winemaker Adam Hooper referred. I'm unsure as to whether that relates to an 'artistic' appearance or for the approach to winemaking. For now, I'll just go with the quote.

 The wine slowly opens up, undergoing a transformation from dark and sullen through to something altogether more expressive. Chocolate at its core with hints of violet, cassis and damson. Over time, it takes on a more savoury mien: licorice before again retreating a little into itself.

 Full bodied, it shows an intensity, its beating heart of powerful dark fruit; oak is present and demonstrates a balance against the fruit. Multi-faceted is the wine, the back end brings up a little acidic tang giving the sense of flow. The elements possess an individuality, yet the checks and balances show a wine at ease with itself.

 I'm no artist myself, but have a read of the wikipedia entry for Raphael and you may just get a sense of understanding of that opening quote. 93 

 Tasted on: Sunday 1st September 
Source: Gift
Price: $31
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.lacuriowines.com/

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Rockford Black Shiraz 2009 Disgorgement

  08:41    


This was gifted to me by my brother-in-law on the birth of my first daughter. Therefore, I couldn't think of a more fitting moment to open, and share it, than on Father's Day. 

 Wine can be so much more than just the contents within, and this wine - regardless of the disgorgement - will be inextricably linked to family and precious moments such as its receipt as a gift.

 It's matured in large format old wood for three years before being tiraged. Further, it's left on years for 12 months before disgorgement. 

Opens with black cherry, touches of dried earth, plum and leather. Mousse here is fine, gentle, as is the bead. The palate shows off sweet liqueur of both red and black fruits. The body is fine, again, of a gentle nature.

Elements of licorice weave their way through the palate before a persistent finish of candied red fruits. So fine, yet also having at its core a rugged underbelly. As a wine it is so more-ish, so very Australian as a style. 93

Tasted on: Sunday 1st September, a Flower Day
Source: Gift
Price: $?
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.rockfordwines.com.au/

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Sunday, 1 September 2013

Kalleske Plenarius 2012

  09:49    


There's much to enjoy here, even if just from the perspective of the square shouldered, proprietary bottle that Kalleske use.

 The wine is 100% organic Viognier that spends 7 days on skins, the resultant wine has a delightful amber-onion skin-russet edged hue, it's what the be-bearded, be-hatted fraternity would refer to as an 'orange', or 'skin-contact' wine on account of the technique of, well, spending time on skins.

 Smells of cool jasmine tea, lavender, florals. Touch of butterscotch lurks in the background and hints of ground ginger waft up as the wine itself opens.

 The palate shows a little tinned mandarin, lavender and cool apricot. Textural to boot, exhibiting a steely edge with a phenolic rub and long-lasting drying length, oh what length. I've been drinking this over two days and its still looking the goods. Good price too. 92

 Tasted on: Friday 30th August, a Flower Day 
Source: Retail, Craft Wine Store
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.kalleske.com/

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