The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

An Australian Wine Blog

This Wine Blog

This Australian wine blog was formerly known as thewinewankers.com

I'm a wine drinker, and this blog is about wine, not just Australian wine.

If you wish to contact me, please do so here.
All content of this Australian Wine Blog © Stuart Robinson - The Vinsomniac. Powered by Blogger.

Thursday, 31 August 2017

Rusden Driftsand GSM 2015

  14:30    

Rusden's Driftsand is generally well stocked in the independent off-trade. To my mind, that you can get a wine of this quality, with consistent character for around the $20 mark is testament to Cristian Canute's trade.

Hints of jube, erring on the side of raspberry mousse. Red fruited no doubt, sweet-spiced top notes, flecks of dill. Exotic, beautifully perfumed.

Quintissentially Rusden - the lightness, approachability, almost sponge like texture. Initially simply fruited, it actually grows in stature in the mouth. Fruit gives way to spice, a suggestion of mocha and milk chocolate. Cocoa fine tannin. Lots going on. Much to like and enjoy here. 91 

 Tasted on: Friday 12th May, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: TBA
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.rusdenwines.com.au/

 Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

   / / / /

  No Comments

d'Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2013

  08:30    

A blend of Cabernet (66%),  Petit Verdot (19%) and Merlot (15%).

Touch reductive, rubbery pong sitting in front of savoury driven Cabernet. Hints of cedar give an indication of what lies beneath.  

Fairly slick, smooth, experience on entry; minty, floral, ultra-brite fruit. I'm really not sure what it's trying to be, feels in part brisk, nervy and yes a little disjointed. It's not unpleasant, more intriguing, both in the pleasure one derives from it and the prospect of what it may settle into. 89 

 Tasted on: Thursday 11th May, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $29
Alcohol: 14.4%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: darenberg.com.au

 Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

   / / / /

  No Comments

Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Bremerton Bâttonage Chardonnay 2015

  14:30    

Has the aromas of the worked Chardonnay: creamy, cashew, almost clarified butter.


Creamy, figgy hints in the mix - presence of both fruit, mineral edges and hint of acid. Solid, well worked. 90
 
Tasted on: Sunday 13th August, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.bremerton.com.au/

 Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

   / /

  No Comments

Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2016

  08:30    

The Pennon Hill range within the Montalto portfolio are the more approachable, here and now wines. Here stonefruit with some residual oak spice framing things up sets the tone early. Just a hint of struck match complexity in the mix too. 


It really just hits a spot: delightful balance of fruit, a minerally edge hardens the palate away from a softer stance. Drive and length, propel the wine and, somewhat surprisingly a citrus hit delivers more. 92

 Tasted on: Thursday 17th August, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://montalto.com.au

 Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

   / /

  No Comments

Tuesday, 29 August 2017

Ferngrove The King Malbec 2015

  14:30    

It was something of a cheats 'cassoulet' round our way that had me reaching for this. The South Central area of WA may be some distance from France's South-West, but Malbec is not drawing too long a bow between the two. 

Leads with a dusky, dusty intro. The faintest hints of Violet meet black fruit and the savoury, briary remnants. Savoury at its core, sweet accents that add up to the profile. 

Soft, rounded, sitting nicely at the heart of the palate, drawing you in. It's quite creamy in how it resolves in the mouth and the juice factor is a distinct draw. The finish could be longer, but - regardless - this is good drinking experience. 90 

 Tasted on: Friday 18th August, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

 Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

   / / /

  No Comments

Mitchell Harris Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

  08:30    

Sourced from the Peerick Vineyard, Moonambel, Pyrenees. Spends 15m French Oak (20% new) and sees 10% whole bunch inclusion.

Delightfully almost lighter-than-medium Cabernet on offer here. Soft, inviting, more in the fruit spectrum than the inherently savoury - yet not lacking from that which Cabernet  imparts. 

Blackcurrant pastille the over-riding impression, a little vanilla in the mix from 20% new oak - and 15 months maturation time. Great length to boot, transparent and downright approachable. 93 

 Tasted on: Saturday 19th August, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://mitchellharris.com.au

 Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

   / /

  No Comments

Monday, 28 August 2017

Montalto Estate Pennon Hill Shiraz 2016

  14:30    

Whilst it may lead with savoury influences - I initially suspected a minor whole bunch inclusion (there isn't, the fruit is hand harvested and de-stemmed into 2T open fermenters - you ultimately cannot escape the quality of the fruit on offer. 

There are hints of meat, spice and a little oak. Medium bodied, it sits beautifully, easing its way across the palate. A little freshening acid, tight-grained tannin, its pace quickens as it effortlessly slips down. 

Silken slip of a thing, not lacking in substance either. 91

Tasted on: Monday 21st August, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $32 
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://montalto.com.au/

 Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

   / /

  No Comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)