Wirra Wirra 12th Man Chardonnay 2016

Wirra Wirra 12th Man Chardonnay 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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A bit more about this vintage of the 12th Man. See here for a couple of previous reviews.

Subtle changes to the 12th man over the years, here more of the stonefruit, citrus and grapefruit freshness than the oak and meal of yore. Still retains this vanilla creaminess. 

Fairly loose, open - good balanced acidity and spice. Good length, generosity. 91

Tasted on: Wednesday 12th April, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.wirrawirra.com

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Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

  08:30    Stu.

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Enjoys a bit of time in wood, seeing 13 months in 50% French (10% new) and 50% older American oak barriques.

Coveys itself by way of choc-mintiness, leaf and oak. Classic Cabernet wearing its heart on its sleeve. Sweet fruited, pretty ripe to boot, long on flavour: dark, fantastic depth and somewhat gravelly tannin. 

It’s a depth of flavour that cannot be escaped, haunting, lingering. Needs some time to settle, to come together. 2020 - 2035 92+  

Tasted on: Monday 10th April, a Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.katnookestate.com.au

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Zonte's Footstep Violet Beauregard Malbec 2015

Zonte's Footstep Violet Beauregard Malbec 2015

  14:30    Stu.

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"It's amazing! Tomato soup, I can feel it running down my throat

It's changing... roast beef and baked potato. Crispy skin and butter!" 

~ Violet Beauregard, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

Well, not quite. But it's certainly very vivid. Violet. Giving beautiful regard to that name, not only does it shine brightly in the glass, florals, spice and a little supporting oak are in the mix too. 

Woody oak, comes across quite hard on the palate, spicy summoned from the deep, somewhat of a waxy feel flowing across the back palate. Somewhat angular, not quite gelling or flowing mellifluously. 

But it's certainly no slouch either in the flavour department. Long tail of spice and fine tannin. 89 

Tasted on: Tuesday 11th April, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.zontesfootstep.com.au/

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Zonte's Footsteps Canto di Lago 2015

Zonte's Footsteps Canto di Lago 2015

  08:30    Stu.

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A trio of Italians in this blend, being Sangiovese (75%), Barbera (20%), and Lagrein (5%).

Quite a powerful mix, sour cherry leads and provides significant aromatics to the wine. Pomegranate molasses, certainly something sweet and syrupy. Florals - a complex aromatic mix.

Medium bodied, berry fruit, a surge of spice; juicy back palate with some fine-grained tannin. You could see how this could work with a variety of foodstuffs: lapping up tomato pasta, antipasto or something off of the grill. 90 

Tasted on: Monday 10th April, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.zontesfootstep.com.au

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Yelland & Papps Second Take Vermentino 2016

Yelland & Papps Second Take Vermentino 2016

  14:30    Stu.

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Alright, I'm going to put my hairy ones on the line here: this is my favourite of the '16 second Take Releases. There, I said it. Sadly since Sold Out ex-Cellar Door.

The numbers: Picked 19th February, spending a whopping 279 days on skins, bit of Wild ferment action, unfiltered/ unfined (Vegan friendly).

Simply beautiful: lemon barley, nectarine, beeswax, a little lavender and jasmine. Great depth of aroma, yet at the same time a delightful freshness and simplicity. Could I be more effusive?

Of substance, a presence, textural, but of freshness and spice. Layered, a sheer delight in the mouth. A fantastic wine that combines elegance, freshness and downright moreishness. Lingering long on the palate, the mind too. 94 

Tasted on: Sunday 9th April, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 11%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: yellandandpapps.com

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Yelland & Papps Second Take Shiraz 2016

Yelland & Papps Second Take Shiraz 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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Usual story: Good use of whole bunch (65%), decent time on skins (11 days), with predominantly second use oak and older (100% French, 29% new). The Second Take Shiraz is in a good place in 2015.

Smells blue, purple - expressive violets, fruits of the forest compote, even a touch of blueberry conserve. Not jammy, mind, expressive. Little savoury hints in the mix, considered. 

Clean, medium bodied, ultra-fine tannin appears quite immediately and then slowly recedes across the palate. More of that blue/black fruit mix, earthen. Acid and juicy fruit appears like a burst - kinda like gently squeezing a tart blueberry until it pops. Something like cola, stem, savoury. With some tartness. 

Very much liking the vibe of the Shiraz this year, cool and calm, unhurried as it makes its way across the palate. 92

Tasted on: Friday 7th April, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

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Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir 2015

Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir 2015

  14:30    Stu.

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I've since verily inhaled another bottle of this wine, purchased at Cellar Door. Apropos of nothing.

Opens with a sweet/savoury mix, of stems and fruit, spice, earth. It invites, gets the nasal hairs twitching. 

Lighter than I'd expect, possibly a little thin, not lacking for presence - fruit yes, but more herbal, a whiff of evergreen forest towards the back palate. Light on alcohol too - a mere 12.5%, contributing to that no doubt. 

Seeking a little more depth, though it doesn't want for some length. See what becomes of (the broken hearted) it. A cautious 91 perhaps.  

Tasted on: Thursday 6th April, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $46
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.shawandsmith.com/

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