Natural Wino Co Organic Lightly Sparkling Rosé 2021

Natural Wino Co Organic Lightly Sparkling Rosé 2021

  21:35    Stu.

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Light Berry kiss with a grassy undertow. 

Strawberry mousse like flavour on initial entry, a subtle petillence adds a bit of energy and drive.

There's a lightness - perceived perhaps, for it's lower in both calories and alcohol - to the body and it sits well across the palate.

Delightful way to start, an afternoon cleanser. 89

Tasted on: Saturday 5th March
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.thenaturalwineco.com.au/

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Storm King Wine Co. Vermentino 2021

Storm King Wine Co. Vermentino 2021

  08:30    Stu.

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Storm King Wine Co. is Ray Costanzo's (Golden Grove) side project with wife Jen. The label is named after the body of water just outside Stanhope, where the couple live.

This evocatively perfumed Vermentino spends 10d on skins with daily plunging. It speaks of pear, marzipan, with a little muskiness around the periphery.

Detailed and precise across the palate, a fine phenolic edge bolsters the wine and adds width and breadth to the fine acidity running long across the palate. Oozing quality and finesse, the Winemaker's play book has been well deployed here. 

An opportunity for many to re-assess the Granite Belt wine region and what it can deliver, for this wine is not just detailed in its own presentation, the winery has gone to extraordinary efforts in how it is presented, not just with the labeling but also the packaging. 93

Tasted on: Sunday 13th March
Source: Q Wine's Hand-me-downs
Price: $55
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Diam
Website: https://www.stormkingwineco.com.au/

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Rock of Wisdom Grenache 2021

Rock of Wisdom Grenache 2021

  08:30    Stu.

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Old Vine Grenache, from Peter and Sofi Hiscock.

There's a complexity here that combines a youthful aura married to the depth of flavour that old Vine material brings.

The fruit - raspberry, even a suggestion of blue - sings and works in tandem with that depth of flavour and pull of tannin. There's a throw of acidity that somehow belies its 14.5%

Give it some time and air, for it then further reveals itself with something like chicory root character  bound up with burnt orange peel. It's a fascinating exercise in old Vine Grenache with a youthful vogue, interest factor is high. 92

Tasted on: Friday 4th March

Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://rock-of-wisdom.myshopify.com/

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Clandestine Vineyards Pinot Noir 2021

Clandestine Vineyards Pinot Noir 2021

  08:30    Stu.

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First Pinot Noir from the Clandestine crew, unsurprisingly sourced from the Adelaide Hills - where their
excellent Pinot Grigio hails.

It's a riot of dark fruit, Plum and black cherry. Yet for that its lithe and supple, a delicious wave of fruit sweeping across the palate.

A fine rasp of tannin, flash of acid for freshness, a generous tail of flavour that is seemingly perpetual in manner. It sees some winemaking love, by way of whole bunch (15%) and some new oak (30%) adding to an overall packaged that is is delicious, balanced, moreish - overall quite a dangerous combination. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 20th January
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://clandestinevineyards.com.au/

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Mr Mick Sangiovese 2021

Mr Mick Sangiovese 2021

  20:58    Stu.

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Youthful take on Sangiovese - Nuovo, as perhaps it might be best stated.

Smells primary, of fresh summer strawberry, cherry and blackcurrant, augmented with a touch of baking spice in the mix.

The palate is slick, glossy and fair glides across the palate in an energetic manner.

It's a lighter take on Sangiovese, but unmistakabley carrying the markers of that great variety. Light, lithe, playful - and quite smashable. 90

Tasted on: Wednesday 9th February
Source: Sample
Price: $17
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.mrmick.com.au

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Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2019

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2019

  12:36    Stu.

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It's a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc in the following proportions: 50/48/2%.

Seing a mix (61/39) of od/new oak for eight monnths; to 4000l foudres for a further 11m.

Redcurrant, cedar and bay on the nose. Warming up: chocolate, coffee grounds, earth and floral perfume.

It's lithe, soft on entry and then carrying a certain line of powdery tannin - almost the hallmark for these impressive TàT releases. There's a milk chocolate note on the finish, combined with a little freshness. Classy - balnced, but you just know this has cellarability writ large across it! 93

Tasted on: Saturday 19th February
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://terreaterre.com.au/

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Tim Adams Skilly Ridge Riesling 2020

Tim Adams Skilly Ridge Riesling 2020

  08:55    Stu.

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White florals, blossom, lavender, a little bruised apple in the frame. Beautiful aromatics, freshness juxtaposed against a little oxidative edge.

Minerally, a subtle tang of lime juice across the length of the wine, textural width adding breadth to length and filling the wine out. It's what marks it out from a raft of "acid and lime" merchants that we all know (and for the most part love).

A generosity of flavour to it, subtle and beguiling. A standout Rizza! 93

Tasted on: Thursday 3rd February
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.timadamswines.com.au/

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