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Christopher Robert Mullan

@dechamp_4

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The AFL Grand Final ling weekend has been a great opportunity to pull out some fantastic wines:

2015 First Drop Wines The Cream Shiraz: The decant really helped with this wine. Just starting to hit its prime. A powerful Barossa Valley Shiraz made from Ebenezer, Seppeltsfield and Greenock fruit.

2016 Travis Earth 908 Shiraz Mataro: One of the hidden gems of the Barossa Valley. Lovely length of dark fruits on the palette.

2019 Main Ridge Estate Half Acre Pinot Noir: Probably my favourite Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir and starting to show its potential. Still lots of red fruits but some earthy characters starting to come through.

2018 Mount Mary Pinot Noir: This would have to go close to being the best Pinot Noir that I have had this year. Stunning wine. A powerful expression of Pinot Noir.

2016 John Duval Eligo Shiraz: This wine never disappoints and is always a wine that rewards with age. Still a baby after 10 years.

2023 Hentley Farm H-Block Shiraz Cabernet: A slightly more restrained version of this wine. Still dominated by black fruits. by @dechamp_4

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14 days ago

A fantastic day in the Heathcote region for the Syrahmi tasting to celebrate the release of the amazing 2021 Home Block Shiraz. @syrahmi.wine @adamfoster by @dechamp_4

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4 months ago

I recently enjoyed five days in the Barossa Valley. I always love my time over there. So many wineries and winemakers provided great experiences.

My standout wine at each of the wineries I visited are:
Two Hands Wines: The 2021 Spirit of Place Shiraz blew me away and was worth the wait. @twohandswines

Greenock Creek Wines: Hoe you can you go passed the Roennfeldt Road Shiraz. @greenockcreekwines

Hart of the Barossa: The Mataro really surprised me. This was a great easy drinking style. @hartofthebarossa

Agricola: I might be letting the secret out but tasting the yet to be released Riesling was amazing. @callum_powell

Elderton: Once I heard about the 2024 Sixfold I had to taste it. From Menglers Hill, this will very quickly become an iconic Elderton wine. @eldertonwines

Barossa Boy: The Double Trouble Shiraz Cabernet was a wonderful expression of this blend. @barossaboywines

Z Wine: The Julius Shiraz is always the best value for money wine at Z Wine. The 2022 release did not disappoint. @zwinebarossa

Standish Wine Company: How do you choose when each wine is incredible? Personally felt the Lamella stood out to me. @standishwineco

Tomfoolery: My first time tasting the Equinox Shiraz and far out it was good!!! @tomfoolerywines

Spinifex: I have always loved La Maline Shiraz and the 2022 is as good as ever. @spinifexwines

First Drop Wines: The Cream is The Cream for a reason. @firstdropwines

Izway: Is always amazing the wines that have just gone through fermentation. The Hoffmann always stands out to me. @izway_wines

Hayes Family Wines: The Renshaw Marananga Shiraz was very special. @hayesfamilywines

Rusden Wines: I always love the Black Guts Shiraz. @rusdenwinery

Brothers at War: The Iconic Shiraz is always a very special wine to taste and loved it yet again. @brothers_at_war

Eisenstone: Tasting the yet to be released 2023s was fantastic. The Richardson was my pick. @eisenstone

Hentley Farm: Cotes de Hentley! @hentleyfarm

Alkina: So many elegant wines but the Old Quarter was my pick. @alkinawine

RieslingFreak: No. 10 is always impressive. @rieslingfreakofficial

Chateau Yaldara: You're Feckin Jokin' was very nice. @chateauyaldara by @dechamp_4

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4 months ago

A winery that I have really come to appreciate is Wren Estate from the Mt Camel area in the Heathcote region.

Wren Estate have a number of super premium single block Shiraz wines from Blocks 5, 6, 8 and 14 at $198 and their signature Shirsz wine, the MXW at $230.

While there are a number of super premium wines, the Elementary Shiraz is a fantastic expression of Heathcote Shiraz at $80. This is one of a few Heathcote Shiraz wines that I like to show off to friends and family to show what the Heathcote region is all about.

I'm So Ronely ($40) and the S.R.M. (Shiraz Roussanne Marsanne) ($52) are also fantastic wines at these price points. These two wines, along with the other Shiraz wines, The Plot Thickens ($45) and The Game's Afoot ($35) are all vastly different styles of Shiraz.

For those looking for a white wine, the Wren Estate Maesanne ($35) is very approachable and is a fruit forward textural white wine.
@wrenestate

#heathcotewine #heathcoteshiraz #mtcamel #wrenestatewines by @dechamp_4

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4 months ago

After 6 years please welcome back Andelmonde Shiraz to the Standish Wine Company stable. The 2024 Andelmonde is an impeccable balance between dark fruit and elegance. Very much different to the other Standish wines but has the freshness and length of palette expected in a Standish wine. Sourced from a vineyard on Bethany Road, Bethany, this wine is as rare as any wine out there but is a stunning wine.
@standishwineco
#barossavalley #shiraz #barossa #standishwinecompany by @dechamp_4

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5 months ago

The Easter long weekend is a fantastic opportunity to share amazing wines with family and friends. Over the past week I have enjoyed the following wines:

Sami-Odi Little Wine No. 10 @fraser_mckinley Always an elegant multi-vintage wine.

Z Wines Rohrlach Grenache 2018 @zwinebarossa Always one of my favourite Barossa Valley Grenache wines.

Penfolds RWT Shiraz 1999 @penfolds Probably the second best vintage of RWT that I have had. Such a special wine.

Mount Mary Pinot Noir 2015 @mountmaryvineyard Probably the best Pinot Noir that I have had this year. A little bit of age has it looking amazing.

Brown Brothers Patricia Shiraz 2013 @brownbrothers A wonderful medium bodied Shiraz.

Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2012 @peterlehmannwines Just starting to hit its prime. Lovely black fruit characters.

Wild Duck Creek Shiraz Reserve 2022 @wild.duck.creek.estate Would go close to my favourite Wild Duck Creek Reserve Shiraz to date in a tight battle with the 2021.

Yarra Yering Underhill Shiraz 2006 @yarra_yering What a fantastic wine. Still lots of life and quite powerful for a Yarra Valley Shiraz.

Best's Great Western Bart's Block Shiraz 2017 @bestswines Such a special wine released to celebrate 150 years of the winery. Just below Thomson Family for quality.

Tomfoolery Artful Dodger Shiraz 2022 @tomfoolerywines A fantastic expression of a single vineyard Shiraz out of the Seppeltsfield subregion. Drinking beautifully despite being so young.

Brothers At War Eden Valley Single Vineyard Grenache 2024 @brothers_at_war One of Australia's premier Grenache wines. The Pendee Farm fruit creates an amazing wine year in year out.

Castagna Genesis Syrah 2010 @castagnabeechworth One of the benchmark Syrah wines out of Beechworth. In a great spot now after 16 years. by @dechamp_4

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6 months ago

A long weekend in Melbourne is a great excuse to open up some amazing wines.

2017 Yering Station Shiraz Viognier Reserve. A lovely expression of Shiraz Viognier. Showing some tertiary characters but the fresh red and blue fruit characters are still there. @yeringstation

2012 Dalwhinnie Southwest Rocks Shiraz. What a fantastic expression of Pyranees Shiraz. Deep and brooding with a long palette. Still plenty of life. @dalwhinniewines

2012 Kaesler The Bogan. Has started to lose those black fruit and Christmas cake characters that I love in The Bogan. Still a fantastic wine but getting towards being dominated by aged characters. @kaeslerwine

2010 Craiglee Shiraz. Savoury, peppery, meaty...stunning. In its absolute sweet spot. An amazing example of cool climate Shiraz. @craigleevineyard by @dechamp_4

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7 months ago

Had a great night running a Shiraz Regions of Australia tasting.

The wines that were enjoyed were:

1. Beechworth: 2021 Giaconda Shiraz
2. Yarra Valley: 2021 Yarra Yering Underhill Shiraz @yarra_yering
3. Grampians: 2022 Mount Langi Ghiran Mast Shiraz @mtlangighiran
4. Heathcote: 2021 Tellurian Sommet Shiraz @tellurianwinesheathcote
5. Barossa Valley: 2023 Sami-Odi Hoffmann Dallwitz Syrah @fraser_mckinley
6. Eden Valley: 2019 Standish Lamella @standishwineco
7. McLaren Vale: 2022 Koomilya DC Block Shiraz @scpannell
8. Bonus wine: A magnum of 2015 Head Red Shiraz @head_wines by @dechamp_4

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8 months ago

Wishing everyone a safe and prosperous 2026.

Over 2025 I have had the pleasure of enjoying a wide range of incredible wines. My top 30 wines of 2025 are:
1. 2001 Mount Mary Quintet
2. 2001 Giaconda Warner Vineyard Shiraz
3. 1999 Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz
4. 1964 Seppelt Chalambar Burgundy
5. 1973 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Hermitage
6. 1998 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon
7. 2003 Saltram The Eighth Maker Shiraz
8. 1996 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz
9. 2005 Yarra Yarra Syrah Viognier
10. 2001 Saltram No. 1 Shiraz
11. 1999 Rosemount Estate Balmoral Syrah
12. 2002 Seppelt St Peter's Grampians Shiraz
13. 2008 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
14. 2018 Giaconda Estate Vineyard Shiraz
15. 2007 Cullen Diana Madeline
16. 2013 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
17. 2012 Syrahmi La La Shiraz
18. 1995 Rosemount Estate Balmoral Syrah
19. 2016 Syrahmi La La Shiraz
20. 2010 First Drop Fat of the Land Seppeltsfield Shiraz
21. 2010 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz
22. 2010 Torbreck Descendent
23. 2022 Hentley Farm Clos Otto Shiraz
24. 2015 Standish Wine Company The Standish
25. 2012 Yalumba Octavius
26. 1999 Penfolds St Henri
27. 2023 Sami-Odi Our Hill Syrah
28. 2010 Craiglee Shiraz
29. 2024 Phase Three Wines Dero Syrah
30. 2016 Z Wine Plowman Shiraz

Honourable mentions to 2012 Chris Ringland Dimchurch Shiraz, 2023 Swinnie Farvie Grenache, 2015 Curly Flat Pinot Noir, 2012 Yalumba The Signature, 2024 Rieslingfreak No. 50, 2023 Tolpuddle Pinot Noir and 2009 Balnaves The Tally. by @dechamp_4

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9 months ago

Pulled out a special wine for my birthday. This Mount Mary Quintet is at its peak with 24 years of age. Incredible elegance with cassis and red fruit primary fruit characters still standing out over the earthy tertiary notes. by @dechamp_4

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9 months ago

Merry Christmas to all. Hope you had an opportunity to pull out something special to drink. I have had the pleasure of Champagne followed by a 1996 Wynns Michael Shiraz and then a 2009 Balnaves The Tally Cabernet Sauvignon. by @dechamp_4

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10 months ago

Three great days of tastings in the Adelaide Hills has come to an end. My standout wine from each winery I went to are:

The Lane Heritage Shiraz Viognier @thelanevineyard A lovely expression of this northern Rhone blend.

Nepenthe Gamay @nepenthewines An elegant wine with lovely red fruit characters.

Shaw and Smith Lenswood Vineyard Pinot Noir @shawandsmith One of the standout wines of the trip. A complex, savoury style.

Hahndorf Hill Gru Gruner Veltliner @hahndorfhillwinery A lovely expression of this Austrian variety and in a style for the Riesling lovers out there.

Sidewood Estate Signature 777 Pinot Noir @sidewoodestate A deep, brooding Pinot Noir with lovely length.

Murdoch Hill Orion Syrah @murdochhill_wines The most impressive Syrah / Shiraz that I tasted in the Adelaide Hills.

Bird in Hand MAC Mt Lofty Ranges Shiraz @birdinhandwine Such a powerful wine for an Adelaide Hills Shiraz.

Vinteloper Home Shiraz @vinteloper A wonderful piece of history as a wine made from the home block before the 2019 fires.

Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay @tapanappa Made from the oldest Chardonnay vines in the region. Such a stunning Chardonnay. by @dechamp_4

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a year ago