Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Graciano 2014

Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Graciano 2014

  02:19    Stu.

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Often used as a blending component alongside Tempranillo, increasingly Graciano is being seen as a varietal in its own regard. This example from Langhorne Creek shows floral top notes with a darker underbelly of ink, licorice, spice and a little beetroot earthiness.

Light-medium of body, it possesses an elegance, a slippery-glide-around-the-palate experience, like a teenager's first forays into kissing.

Sour cherry and victoria plum provide a restoration of normality after that. Effortless, fine tannins, flow and length. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 14th July, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.handcraftedbygeoffhardy.com.au/

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Terre à Terre Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Terre à Terre Sauvignon Blanc 2014

  10:00    Stu.

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Exemplar of the barrel fermented style of Sauvignon Blanc, that is associated with Bordeaux blanc, a style pursued by premium producers of the variety.

From the close planted vineyard in Wrattonbully that is starting to come of age. It sees 15 days in tank, followed by 10 days in 600 litre demi-muids.

Chinese gooseberry and lime, tropical juice in conjunction with oak and a little of the herbal twang in the background.

A little nervy on the palate, a swirling mix of acid, fruit and texture. It provides freshness about the palate, shape and flow, a delicious textural spread with an even carry of flavour. Give it a little time to pull together. 92++

Tasted on: Saturday 11th July, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 11.95%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://terreaterre.com.au/

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Waywood Wines Tempranillo 2013

Waywood Wines Tempranillo 2013

  09:01    Stu.

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From the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale comes this inviting Tempranillo.

Soft red-black aromatics lure you in, leading to savoury - nigh herbal - twists. Dry and dusty, good grain of tannin enmeshed with blue/black fruit flavour profile.

Good length of flavour, tannin providing carry. 91

Tasted on: Friday 10th July, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.waywoodwines.com/

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Bremerton Mourvédre 2013

Bremerton Mourvédre 2013

  14:00    Stu.

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The reductive hand of Mataro shows with this special release from Bremerton in South Australia's Langhorne Creek.

Initially sullen, it starts to reveal some of that meaty funk, with time further varietal character reveals its hand: florals and plummy depths.

Licorice, plum and black cherry on the palate, moving to a more savoury bent; a fine rub if tannin on a long seam of flavour.

Good length, carry and travel - just could do with a little more stuffing. 90

Tasted on: Tuesday 7th July, Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.bremerton.com.au/

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Giesen Clayvin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012

Giesen Clayvin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012

  08:23    Stu.

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Of the three Giesen single vineyard (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay) wines, I struggled to appreciate this Pinot Noir the most.

From the acclaimed 'Clayvin' vineyard, reputedly Marlborough's oldest Pinot Noir plantings, a site off which both Fromm and Tongue in Groove draw fruit, it's a dark red fruited number. Shows some deep red florals - a suggestion of hibiscus perhaps, over smoky oak scents.

Feels a little hollow on the palate, a little astringency doing little to recover this, a palate lacking the finesse often associated with the variety.

Some red berry character lurks, but overall a disappointing wine given the pedigree of its stablemates. 88

Tasted on: Tuesday 7th July, a Flower transitioning to Leaf day

Source: Sample
Price: $65.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://giesen.co.nz/

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Sailor Seeks Horse Pinot Noir 2013

Sailor Seeks Horse Pinot Noir 2013

  21:47    Stu.

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Barnie Herbets never did get the horse that he sought. He did get himself a bike though and his equine requirements inspired a couple to take the name for their new wine project.

Paul and Gill Lipscombe purchased a neglected vineyard site in 2010 and set about transforming it, restoring it to something resembling an actual vineyard. They made a wine in 2012 - which I had the good fortune to taste - and this 2013 is their first commercial release. A stunning debut.

Earthen, fresh sods, some truffle, a little char; floral notes come through, augmenting the aromatics with a little lift.

Soft, sensual, layered - a palate that yields, gives - so generous; fleshy, a little pomegranate and black cherry. Such excellent fruit presence, length, again generous in the way that it gives. Superb - a most excellent release. 94

Tasted on: Saturday 4th July, a Root day 
Source: Gift
Price: $45
Alcohol: 12.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://sailorseekshorse.com.au/

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Murray Street Vineyards Sophia Shiraz 2012

Murray Street Vineyards Sophia Shiraz 2012

  17:53    Stu.

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We honour the pioneers of the Australian wine industry through gracing bottles of wine with their names, in their memory. But there remain those who maintain we don't do enough to encourage the continued participation of women from the current generation.

Soap-box away now, time to remark on the contribution of Sophia Seppelt, a woman who bore a large number of children; strong and strong of will.

The wine that bears her name shows depth, concentration, power; savoury old wood adds seasoning - suggestive of a little meat and gravy. But give it time for the fruit to start shining through.

Dense and intense, layered - waves of flavour cascade across the palate. There's a regional mix of mulberry, plum fruit and a little cedar/ oak seasoning, plus acid freshness for good measure.

Waves of flavour, a gentle lapping of the back palate, as opposed to a crashing breaker, gentle, forwards and back it shifts, long shore drift bring flavour that ebbs, flows, comes and goes. 95

Tasted on: Thursday 25th June, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $75
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.murraystreet.com.au/

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