The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

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This Australian wine blog was formerly known as thewinewankers.com

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Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Yelland & Papps Delight Vermentino 2012

  05:38    

A pleasant packaging refresh since I had a look at the 2011 release of the same.  A pleasing tactile feel to the label too.  You'll have to avail of one to get a feel for yourself.

Lemon, citrus blossom evade out of the glass - bringing you in.  The palate shows good mineral character.   It's zesty, has a bit of verve, drive and swagger to it whilst retaining a lightness.

Moreish, fresh.  Finishes good, it hangs around - lingers with a little more of the minerally resolve that makes this example more than just a wash of flavour.  89 - Good

Source: Sample
Price: $19.95
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap

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Sunday, 26 August 2012

Bimbadgen Semillon 2011

  07:30    

Sherbety lemon, with grass, hay and a hint of buttery character.  Palate shows as lively, fresh and zesty.  Real mineral character here.  Some hint of lime brulee.

Finishes clean with mineral, lively acid and defined lemon.  Clean, but failed to really excite.

A plate of Oysters will get you going.  88 - Good

Source: Semillon
Price: $20
Alcohol: 10%
Closure: Screwcap 

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Saturday, 25 August 2012

Jamsheed Harem Series Mon Petite Francine 2011

  06:01    

Pretty controversial wine, insofar as it was denied export approval by the Australian panel that granted such.  Granted as it itself is now defunct.  You can read more on it here.

A single vineyard Cabernet Franc, showing a fair bit of funk through stalky/ stemmy/ sappy aromatics - the whole bunch character clearly shining through here.  There's black fruit, almost pastille like blackcurrant and hints of cherry.  In fact it bears at times a resemblance to cheap cola.  That's not a pejorative statement.

Medium bodied, stalky edges come through, although it is actually quite delicate and loose-knit.  Fine grained tannin, drying.  Moderate length and all up rather juicy and dare I say smashable.  89 - Good

Source: Retail, Spiros Paddington
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap

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Monday, 20 August 2012

Benjamin Darnault Picpoul de Pinet 2011

  15:15    

It's back!  The new vintage of the delightful Picpoul de Pinet from Benjamin Darnault.  And the bottle image depicts exactly how I'll be consuming this stunner: by the pool-load AND by the pool.

Pretty similar to the 2010. Fresh aromatic profile with with honey, lemon, a hint of white florals.  But again, it's much more than that.

Zing, tingle; snap, crackle and pop.  It just tastes alive, exciting and this time out I see more waxy textural mouth-feel too.  A little fuller than the '10 but still with that beautiful, cut 'n' thrust, long acidic line.  Why this would not fly off of the shelves, into folks' glasses and evaporate is beyond me.  Wake up people - this is Summer .  93 - Very Good    

Source: Retail, Grand Central Cellars
Price: $23
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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Friday, 17 August 2012

Massena Mataro 2010

  21:24    

Most likely a one-off production, a lack of Grenache meaning no Moonlight Run produced in that year.

A pretty, bright, enticingly perfumed Mataro.  Still retains Mataro's typical choc-cherry-plum character, augmented by some cracked pepper.  Smells a little lighter, not bad nor good, a point of difference.

Again, lightness - yet dark fruit with a core of fruit sweetness on the palate.  A little short in the mouth, tannin coming on and the finish building with licorice.  Tannin is fine, suggestive of gentle extraction, and overall the finish is excellent with Asian spice rounding things out.  Excellent value.  91 - Very Good

Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Cork

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Thursday, 16 August 2012

TeAro Estate 'Pump Jack' Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

  07:04    

Final Cabernet Sauvignon of three tasted blind.  Been very impressed with the TeAro Estate wines reviewed to date, less so with this Cabernet.  It is still well made, showing good balance, with fruit quality shining through.

Where it falls short for me is with tannin.  Or lack thereof. Of the three tasted, this was the more fruit driven with plum and cassis on approach.  It smelled sweeter, more 'polished' and indeed on entry the wine showed itself as being rather slick, smooth and fruitier.  The 100% French Oak lending an elegance.

The finish was a little cordial-like with fruit sweetness, tannins were present - just.  It was easy-going, one for drinking, not necessarily for thinking, but all up didn't do it for me as well as previous wines did.  87 - Average

Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Bremerton 'Coulthard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

  08:25    

Second of three Cabernets tasted blind.  Leafy with hints of minty florals mixed with black fruit, notably cassis, dusty cassis.

Dark fruits, layered, spice and pepper - quite vibrant.  Finishes with licorice, tar and good gravelly tannin.  89 - Good

Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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