Craig Robinson ‘Robbo’ is one of the most talented winemakers on The Granite Belt. The vineyard has a very long history on The Granite Belt, If memory serves Robinsons Family Vineyard produced the first Gold Medal wining wine at the Royal Queensland Show.
2016 was a good local vintage and this classic Australian blend showcases the vintage conditions. It is deeply coloured, very dark with deep red rose petals at the meniscus. The bouquet offers up cassis, plums, vanilla and hints of spice. There is certainly some oak on the palate – vanilla and cedar – but the wine is well balanced overall and the 2016 vintage fruit has no problem expressing itself over the oak. There are dark berries, dark plums, dark chocolate, spices a little later on, tannins are smooth and tending toward silky, acid is in balance with the fruit flavours and depth. There are just a few tartrate crystals at the bottom of the bottle, not a fault and doesn’t detract from the wine – it does get cold on The Granite Belt!
The wine is medium bodied and suits Queensland drinking conditions remarkably well but no rush as this one will be long lived. The wine is well suited to hearty protein rich winter meals but like most Granite Belt wines would also provide good accompaniment to tapas dishes in summer.
Tasted: Sunday 29th December, 2019 without food and then with over several hours. Re-tasted the next day after breathing in refrigerated bottle overnight.
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Diam
Price: $30
Suggested Drinking Window: Now to 2031+
