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, 30 April 2020

d'Arenberg The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

  20:21    

Cedary oak over Plum - firm and assertive, riper - as the Icons seem to be this year, indeed the Ironstone Pressings GSM has been held back for now, when historically the trio has been released simultaneously.

Finer tannin profile - again consistent with the Dead Arm - coats the mouth, feeling tighter and giving that sense of brooding quality.

I've been on record. In the past that Coppermine Road has consistently been a favourite amongst the trio, and indeed McLaren Vale Cabernet in general is received favourably on these pages. 


The releases this year seem... different, is what I am saying. Finer, somewhat sullen, waiting to unfurl. I'm going to go long here, history will judge. 94 

 Tasted on: Tuesday 18th February 
Source: Sample
Price: $75
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.darenberg.com.au/

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

   / /

  No Comments

Wednesday, 29 April 2020

Ridgemill Estate Pinot G 2019

  16:30    

Pouring a delightful subtle bronze colour. Offering aromas of just ripe Nashi pear, subtle spice hints, a suggestion of toast (although that could be me having a stroke or the neighbour burning theirs!).

The palate shows a touch of weight against a crisper presence - you can easily see why so named, neither Gris, nor there - suggestions of spice and slight phenolic edge giving a counter to the texture. 

Adroitly negotiated variety and stylistic interpretation thereof. 91 

 Tasted on: Wednesday 8th April
Source: Tasting
Price: $28
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://ridgemillestate.com/

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

   / /

  No Comments

Taylor's Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

  08:30    

I do like Clare Valley Cabernet - here married to that from Coonawarra - it seems to consistently present in a brighter manifestation. There's hints of gum leaf in the mix too. Altogether it adds up to a bright and somewhat more fruity representation.

The palate shows silken tannins that cascade across the palate, hints of choc-mint bring with them blue and black fruits in an effortless flow. This would win many fans. Good to go now, and rewarding short term cellaring up to 2027. 92 

 Tasted on: Sunday 5th April
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.taylorswines.com.au/

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

   / / /

  No Comments

Tuesday, 28 April 2020

Hastwell and Lightfoot Vermentino 2019

  16:30    

Vermentino was the talk of the town (and twittersphere!) back in the day, hailed as one of a new breed of somewhat more sustainable varieties, better suited to the changing growing environment. 

Save that some producers latched onto this hype, with scant regard for what the variety was meant to look like from a point of origination. Not that we should always be looking to emulate a style based on a baseline reference, but if something were to differ it should at least offer something in addition. 

So it's with some relief to come across this example, where the freshness and vitality have not been sacrificed, nor have the texture and boy that makes this a refreshing joy AND a versatile match with a range of foodstuffs. 

It's a riot of fresh citrus - indeed you'd almost want a squeeze of this over your calamari, if you'd give some up that is - supplemented with fleshy tropical fruit.

It's not what consider a veluptuous offering, for it comes with a punch of phenolics and concludes on a drying tail of flavour. Cracking example. 92 

 Tasted on: Thursday 26th March
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://hastwellandlightfoot.com.au/

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

   / /

  No Comments

Rusty Mutt Shiraz 2016

  08:30    

Solid McLaren Vale Shiraz here, bearing the hallmark of both region and variety. 

Succulent berry profile, fruit still prime at four years. Milk chocolate and oak remnants, subtle earthen hints. 

The palate sees more of the same, except the fruit cranks it up a notch, with ripe and juicy raspberry with touches of redcurrant and their freshness to the profile. Good wine. 92 

 Tasted on: Wednesday 26th February 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.rustymutt.com.au/

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

   / /

  No Comments

Monday, 27 April 2020

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon 2018

  16:30    

Preserved lemon meets something like Canteloupe melon. It's certainly that citrus vibe, supplemented with a tropical edge.

There's a waxy, textural feel across the palate, slip and slide movement that lends a sensuous sway to proceedings. It's all free run juice - the juice extracted when berries split under their own weight, before pressing - to minimise phenolics, which is my take on the feel and flow of the wine.

There's an energetic vibe to things, a cut and thrust of acidity that probes to the far reaches of the palate, giving lasting length and presence. 92 

 Tasted on: Tuesday 18th February 2020
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 11.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://huntingtonestate.com.au/

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

   / /

  No Comments

d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2017

  08:30    

A touch of boozy warmth greets you on first appraisal, spiced oak supplementing that, giving something of a Christmas cake appeal.

That palate shows appeal, more medium than full bodied, a succulence and fine tannin threaded through. Hints of licorice, dark chocolate and latterly spice sitting over the barest glimpses of black fruit.

It's certainly dense and entrenched at this stage, yet the fine bones certainly give an impression of quality and what may lie ahead. 92 

 Tasted on: Monday 17th February
Source: Sample
Price: $75
Alcohol: 15%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.darenberg.com.au/

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

   / /

  No Comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)