The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

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This Australian wine blog was formerly known as thewinewankers.com

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Tuesday, 31 July 2018

Out of Step Wine Co. Lone Star Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017

  16:30    

Lone Star sits directly opposite the famed Lusatia Park VY, atop yellow duplex clay (aka grey soils) at an elevation of 225m.

Opens with something like a creamed asparagus note, sitting over a tropical fruit and pcitrus base that adds freshness and vitality to that. 

Minerally, with drive a fine spine - almost skeletal and nervy. More at that citrus vein, edgy and with an acidic taughtness that runs like a zip wire through its length. 

It concludes on what I am best to suggest is a flinty. Persistence personified. Yet for all that seemingly perpetual energy, it's fine in its presentation. 92 

 Tasted on: Tuesday 24th July, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com/

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Dub Style Mataro No.1 2015

  08:30    

"Rocker to rocker, raver to raver

Turn up the bass why don't you do us all a favour
Rocker to rocker, raver to raver
Turn up the bass why don't you do us all a favour"

~ Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub, Apollo440

Except, well, I am. Dub Style.

If Inkwell wines are the album cut live, made from single vineyards without addition, then Dub Style are the remixes, not necessarily tricked up, but where the producer employs the nuances of the trade at the mixing desk.

From the winery: "aged for 15 months in neutral french oak hogheads, these barrels were selected for the purity of expression of the variety and because they were just juicy goodness that had to be bottled".

Immediately savoury, nutty - with those deep black fruit notes resonating like a signature bass line. 

Fine and glossy on entry, as good wines do, straddles that fine line between light and juicy, with a chewy-fudge edge. Fine tannins supplement these qualities and flow on, bringing on their journey coffee grounds, licorice...And just when you think you're done, there that hazel/walnut thing happening again. 

Superb. And that it's well packaged is a further addition. 91

 Tasted on: Thursday 26th July, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.dubstylewines.com/

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Monday, 30 July 2018

d'Arenberg Sticks n Stones 2014

  20:40    

An odd blend, fusing some of the best the Iberian Peninsula has to offer, being formed of Tempranillo (37%), Grenache (36%), Souzao (25%), Tinta Cao (2%).

Has on offer a curious combination of the dark sullen nature that Tempranillo and Grenache sometimes bring to the party, yet elevated by the floral elements that Tinta Cao and Souzao (better known as Port varieties) themselves bring. 

Light on entry, fine-grained tannins, on a decent length. 89 

Tasted on: Sunday 24th June, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $29
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://darenberg.com.au/

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Friday, 27 July 2018

Montalto Teurong Block Pinot Noir 2016

  14:30    

Fruit drawn off of the Springborn Lakes VY, at 30m elevation on Port Philip Bay side of the Peninsula, with 230doz made. 

 At that lower elevation, and with warmer winds drawing over the bay, this is a riper site that takes to inclusion of whole bunch in the fermentation.

Kirsch, bramble red fruit, spice is making an appearance on the aromatics, latterly floral aspects start to appear. 

Took just a moment to open up, revealing a complex array of flavour and feeling. Maraschino cherry, veering to a little baked Plum. There's a raft of baking spice in the frame too. 

Suggestion of tannin, initially fine then bolstered and growing in stature, carrying the fruit in a crescendo across the palate. It's a wine that one could wax lyrical over. A fine release. 94 

 Tasted on: Sunday 22nd July, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $70
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://montalto.com.au/

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d'Arenberg The Bonsai Vine GSM 2016

  08:30    

In part opened in reference to a recent trip to Japan, in part due to the fact that Grenache is one of Chester Osborne's "love children". 

It initially speaks of a little bunch character, of caramelisation. Red fruits, tilled earth, floral hints giving lift and a lighter air. The palate is juicier, relative crunch with a delicate tannic presence. 91 

 Tasted on: Saturday 23rd June, a Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $29
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.darenberg.com.au

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Thursday, 26 July 2018

Ferngrove White Label Cabernet Merlot 2016

  15:30    

Offers a mix of brightish red fruit against some darker spice, clove and pepper and the like. 

It’s chewy with a hint of leafy bitterness through the middle, which gives length when perhaps least expected. Drinks well given the ask. 87

 Tasted on: Wednesday 13th June, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $16
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

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Yelland & Papps Devote Greenock Shiraz 2016

  08:00    

Classically proportioned Barossan Shiraz that lures, equally, the unwary and the enlightened. It's your typical oak-kissed riot of red fruit, riper in manifestation with what appears to be a coffee and vanilla bean accent.

Not for the faint-hearted, certainly if you've become used to lighter, savoury nuanced examples such as Y&P's own Second Take range [notes]. 

It carries itself with a silken finesse, a hallmark of the Y&P style. There's a fair amount of substance: something like a smokey balsamic reduction, graced with hits of baking spice. 

Feels somewhat remiss to not wax lyrical about the fruit presence that seamlessly and effortlessly glides to a conclusion. Top drawer. 93 

 Tasted on: Wednesday 25th July, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.yellandandpapps.com/

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