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
2009 Freycinet Vineyard Pinot Noir Tasmania, 13.5%. Tasted 18/06/2012
Freycinet was established in 1979 and was the first commercial winery on the east coast of Tasmania. Colour is slightly opaque, light red. Nose has dark cherry, forest floor and various spices, at once intriguing and inviting. Palate is...
2003 ‘The Bridge’ by Knots Wines Heathcote Victoria
This wine was enjoyed with a Stolen Greek Lamb Stew (Kleftiko Lamb) which is a very slow cooked lamb shoulder; after the wine opened up it was a great match. Colour is deep rich red, Nose is all rich stewed plums, chocolate, licorice - rich and...
Hunter Valley Gems, the two S’s
On a bleak, cold, rain-sodden Queens Birthday holiday we set out to reacquaint ourselves with two of the famous Hunter S's; Shiraz and Semillon. Well at least the foul weather kept the crowds away, most tasting rooms we had to ourselves, which...
2007 Craggy Range Sophia Merlot/Cab/Cab Franc
Tasted May 2012 with hickory smoked leg of lamb and roast vegetables. This comes from that area in NZ north island called Gimblett Gravels, an astonishing breeding ground for outstanding red wines, mainly of the Bordeaux right bank mix, that is...
Delatite Dead Man’s Hill Gewurtztraminer, Central Victoria, 2010
The wine of the week in today's SMH Good Living section is the 2010 Delatite Dead Man's Hill Gewurtztraminer from Central Victoria. Huon Hooke writes: Delatite gewurtztraminer has for years been one of Australia's best; grown and made at the...
Head Wines Head Red Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley, 2010
The wine of the week in today's Good Living section of the SMH is the 2010 Head Red Shiraz Viognier from Head Wines in the Barossa Valley. Huon Hooke writes: Alex Head, who worked in Sydney wine retailing and auctioneering previously, hit the...
Phillip Shaw The Idiot Shiraz, Orange 2009
The wine of the week in the Good Living section of the SMH this week is the Phillip Shaw The Idiot Shiraz, Orange 2009. Huon Hooke writes: Phillip Shaw's second ranked shiraz turned heads earlier this year in the Sydney Royal Wine Show when it won...
John Duval Plexus Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre, Barossa Valley 2009
The wine of the week in today's Good Living section of the SMH is the 2009 John Duval Plexus Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre from the Barossa Valley.Huon Hooke writes:John Duval seems able to weave more detail and elegance into Barossa reds than most and...
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay, 2009
The wine of the week in today's SMH Good Living section is the 2009 Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay from Margaret River. Huon Hooke writes: Playing second-fiddle to the most famous chardonnay in the land hasn't always been easy but the...
Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache
Huon Hooke's wine of the week in today's SMH Good Living is the 2009 Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache from the Barossa Valley. He says: "Bush vines are the preferred way to grow grenache - as opposed to the orderly rows of trellis wires that support most...
1995 Houghton Jack Mann Cab Sauv/Shiraz/Malbec, Frankland River W.A.
This was a birthday present from my wife ten years ago and we figured it was time to bring it from the cellar for my birthday dinner in 2011. We tasted it with a whole thick piece of farm-bought steak cooked over direct heat in the charcoal Weber,...
2007 Chateau De Dauphine Fronsac France
Fronsac is an appellation that lies just to the north of the Dordogne River before it becomes the true right bank of the Gironde River. This wine is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The right bank soil is principally clay which supports the...