Chris, on Wine
Welcome to my wine cellar, where I tell you about the wines I’m thinking, drinking, and sometimes cellaring.
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I’m passionate about wine! I’ve been enjoying and collecting it for over 50 years and I’ve built several home wine cellars during that time.
I started this blog to share my thoughts on the wine that I’ve been drinking. I’d welcome your comments … Chris Miley
2013 Freycinet Vineyard Chardonnay Tasmania. 13.5 %
On the home page of the Freycinet Vineyard website I read this statement; Absolute dedication - no compromise. Inspired by the tremendous opportunities of the East Coast of Tasmania, Geoff and Susan Bull cleared the site in 1978, planted the first...
1993 Fermoy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River WA. 14%.
Colour - deep red/brick/crimson. Nose - soft, spicy, blackcurrant and plum. Palate - medium to full bodied, silky with blackcurrant and grippy tannins still present. A longish finish with some cassis, plum and spice.
2011 Riversdale Estate ‘Crater’ Chardonnay, Coal River Valley Tasmania, 13.5%
Another wine kindly offered for me to taste by Stuart Robinson of Cellarmasters. This is a multi trophy and gold medal winner. Coal River is in the next valley north of the Derwent River valley and just a short drive from Hobart. For those wine...
2012 Krondorf Growers (Schulz and Bowen) Barossa Shiraz 14.5%
Kindly offered for me to taste by Cellar Masters, many thanks to Stuart Robinson of Cellarmasters. This wine won Gold at the Barossa Valley Wine Show in 2014 and was Cellarmasters Red Wine of the Year in 2014; it retails online at Cellarmasters at...
2005 Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Hunter Semillon, 11.2%
Tasted 19/01/2015 for no other reason that it is now 10 years old and I’m terrified of losing one. Six trophies and 18 gold medals seems like gorging, but it has earned every single one of them. This may be 10 years old but it could have been made...
Chateau Mailly Grand Cru Brut Reserve NV
This chateau has been producing champagne since 1929. We tasted this on NYE 2014. Colour is pale straw with a vibrant bead. Nose has bright citrus, yeast and light bread aromas. alate is explosive as the bead/bubbles explode on the palate like...
2010 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz, Barossa Valley, screwcap, 14.5%
Tasted 17/12/2014 for our wedding anniversary dinner; well, you need an excuse, and we found one. We had it with a simple Weber-cooked whole piece of mesquite smoked rump steak, asparagus, corn and roasted tomatoes; in truth what we had in fridge...
Gralyn Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, 14.9%
Tasted with friends Alana and Tony, who had faithfully hung on to this since a trip we did together to Margaret River years ago. Colour - very dark red with touch of brick, impenetrable, legs that Cyd Cherise would be proud of. Nose - masses of...
Château Teyssier Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2011
"The palate is incredibly pure, with bouquets of violets and black fruits." Bought this in London at Odd Bins Abbey Road at under $30. We don't see wine like this in Sydney, and certainly not at anything like this price. But the availability of a...
Vincent Paris Granit 60 and Granit 30 Cornas Syrah
Vincent Paris produces two Cornas reds from the same slope composed of fine granite soils, where his major pruning down to four bunches per vine produces incredible power and concentration. This is what he calls the Granit 60, from his oldest...
2011 Tournon M Chapoutier Shay’s Flat, Pyrenees Victoria. 14% alcohol
Tasted May 2013 Robert Parker gave it 95 points so you kind of know whats coming up. My thoughts were thus: First taste is quite powerful and solid tannins; will be better with food like red meats and hard cheeses. Colour is deep dark rich red....
2009 Xavier Vignon Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone Valley France 14.5%
Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, 14.5% Notes from the Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate - 'The outstanding, deep ruby/plum-coloured 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (an unusual blend of 55% Grenache, 35% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah) possesses sweet cassis, black...