Yelland & Papps Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Yelland & Papps Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

  21:20    Stu.

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Cigar box, cedar and bay - soft aromatics, distinctly varietal. 

Fresh, more upfront palate character, gentle acid that freshens, awakens the palate. Good fruit character - black fruit: blackcurrant, a little plum - and the acid carries a line. 90 

Tasted on: Saturday 7th May: Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

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Deakin Estate Shiraz 2015

Deakin Estate Shiraz 2015

  10:40    Stu.

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A little funk, reduction, fermented meats; savoury. 

Savoury, touches of fruits of the forest. Well made, not confected - avoids all the pitfalls of wine at this price point. 88

Tasted on: Thursday 5th May: Leaf to Fruit day

Source: Sample
Price: $10
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.deakinestate.com.au/

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Yelland & Papps Vin de Soif 2014

Yelland & Papps Vin de Soif 2014

  18:59    Stu.

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A blend of Grenache/ Mataro/ Carignan (75/17/9% respectively). For the first time the blend eschews Barossa stalwart Shiraz. Fermented in old French and American 18 months, the usual wild ferment, unfined and unfiltered.

Grenache leads with its pronounced red berry aromatics. Some herbal seasoning, a little cracked pepper - but really it's the sensuous red fruit that reels you in. 

Medium bodied personified: it's light, almost fragile, tart red fruit provides a lift, a hit of refreshment, the kind to slake a thirst. Very soif!

There's some length too, a little interplay - a footballers' one-two - between sweet and savoury elements on the back seat. Just reels you in. Dangerous territory. 90

Tasted on: Monday 23rd May: Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

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Samuel's Gorge Kaleidoscopic Horizons Garnacha Tempranillo 2013

Samuel's Gorge Kaleidoscopic Horizons Garnacha Tempranillo 2013

  09:34    Stu.

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A little lift on opening, distorts the fruit; given time: coffee bean, garrigue, lavender.

Big and bold, oak is prominent - American at that - tannin is assertive, gruff and drying; clearly one for the long-haul, the fruit is there - although somewhat suppressed by the oak. Slowly, it starts to open: vanilla, spice, meat, blood and earth.

A wine of intensity, depth and lingering spice - it's best is clearly ahead of it. 93

Tasted on: Sunday 1st May: Root to Flower
Source: Sample
Price: $75
Alcohol: 14.6%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.gorge.com.au/

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Hither & Yon Muscat Blanc 2015

Hither & Yon Muscat Blanc 2015

  12:18    Stu.

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Pass the Oysters? Husk, almond meal, touch of briny character. 

Immediately dry, citrus, briny, with a freshening acidity; good dryness to the wine. Persistent, comes with a light dry chalkiness, a grip that gives and gives. Good wine, very enjoyable. 91

Tasted on: Sunday 8th May: Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.hitherandyon.com.au/

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Huntington Estate Special Reserve Shiraz 2011

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Shiraz 2011

  09:52    Stu.

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Released as a 5yo - and i'm not entirely sure where it is trying to position itself. 

The heavy hand of oak lingers long on this wine. Something earthen, muddy, treated timber - as if for a freshly prepared garden bed. 

The oak is clearly evident on the palate too, black fruit mixes in, has a plushness to it. 

Not quite sure what it wants to be, or where it will go. It drinks reasonably well, as long as you enjoy - or can tolerate - the oak on show 89 

Tasted on: Thursday 5th May: Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $36
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://huntingtonestate.com.au/

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Mitchell Harris Shiraz 2013

Mitchell Harris Shiraz 2013

  08:00    Stu.

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Sees the inclusion of 25% whole bunch and is co-fermented with 2% Viognier. Sweet-spice, root veg, sappy hints - evidence of the effective use of whole bunches and stem inclusion.  

It's medium bodied, silken, slippery textured; spice, Pyrenees pepper, excellent penetration of flavour: black fruit, smoky - oak? - hints. Fine rub of tannin, balanced acid - well structured wine. 92 

Tasted on: Thursday 5th May: Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://mitchellharris.com.au/

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