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Haut Marin 2015, Côtes de Gascogne

Posted by admin on April 15, 2016

Haut Marin 2015, Côtes de Gascogne
11.5%
€13.95 from Searsons, Monkstown; La Touche, Greystones; The Drink Store, Manor St; Market 57, Clifden; Nolan’s, Clontarf; MacGuinness, Dundalk; Next Door, Kimmage.

Light, aromatic and bursting with crisp apple, exotic fruits and citrus. Great on its own or with white fish dishes.

We had this as an aperitif at a wine dinner hosted by La Touche Wines in Greystones last week. The event, in Theatre Lane restaurant, was great fun, and the food and wines both very good. The white wines of Côtes de Gascogne, generally a blend of Columbard, Ugni Blanc along with other varieties can smell and taste uncannily like a Sauvignon Blanc; aromatic, fresh and fruity. They can offer incredible value.

Tags: Colombard, Cotes de Gascogne, daily-drop, France, Haut Marin, Searsons Wine Merchants, Ugni Blanc, White Wine

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Ch. Janoy Bellevue 2014, Bordeaux

Posted by admin on April 15, 2016

Ch. Janoy Bellevue 2014, Bordeaux
€14.95 from Whelehan’s Wines, Loughlintstown

Very attractive modern Bordeaux with generous plum fruits and light soft tannins. With roast meats (red and white) or firm cheeses. Very good value.

I started out in the wine trade at a time when everyone drank red Bordeaux and have always retained a fondness for what I call ODC – ordinary decent claret; unpretentious, medium-bodied wine with plum and blackcurrant fruits and some drying tannins. They make for perfect everyday dinner wines. This is one such example.

Tags: Bordeaux, ch. janoy Bellevue, France, Red Wine, Vignobles Chevillard, Whelehan's

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Hunky Dory Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand

Posted by admin on April 8, 2016

Hunky Dory Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand
13%
€14.95

Floral aromas, luscious fresh exotic fruits, and a dry finish.

I have written about this wine before, but if you are a fan of Marlborough Sauvignon, this is well worth buying. Made from organically grown grapes, this is a very keenly priced; originally at €18.99, I have seen it in several outlets at a bargain €15.

Available from 64wine, Glasthule; Ardkeen, Waterford; Carpenters, Castleknock; Blackrock Cellar; Gibneys, Malahide; La Touche, Greystones; No. 21, Cork; O’Driscoll’s, Cahirsiveen; The Wine Centre, Kilkenny.

Tags: Classic Drinks, Hunky Dory, Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine

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Pinot Noir La Roncière 2014, André Vatan, Vin de Loire

Posted by admin on April 8, 2016

Pinot Noir La Roncière 2014, André Vatan, Vin de Loire
12.5%
€14.95 from Whelehan’s, Loughlinstown.

Light refreshing red fruits with an earthy edge. Serve cool with all sorts of summer salads, cold meats and chicken dishes.

For a long time, Sancerre was one of the few parts of France other than Burgundy attempting to make red wine from Pinot Noir. Red Sancerre has got a whole lot better, but is always quite pricey. This wine, made by one of the leading producers of Sancerre (white and red) is very moreish and offers pretty good value for money.

Tags: André Vatan, France, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Sancerre, Summer wine, Val de Loire, Whelehan's

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Custoza 2014, Zenato

Posted by admin on April 1, 2016
Custoza 2014, Zenato.
12.5%
Available for €14.95 from Searsons, Monkstown.

Fresh textured white with pear fruits and good cleansing acidity. Great served solo or with lighter seafood and salad dishes, possibly a prawn salad of some sort.

Custoza, a lesser-known neighbour of Soave, can be more reliable, possibly because there are fewer producers who have to try a little harder. They use the same grape varieties, mainly Garganega, sometimes with a little Trebbiano, to make attractive crisp refreshing white wines.

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Tags: Custoza, Garganega, Italy, Searsons Wine Merchants, Trebbiano, White Wine, Zenato

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Dao Jardim da Estrela 2014, Carlos Lucas
Posted by admin on April 1, 2016
Dao Jardim da Estrela 2014, Carlos Lucas
13%

Available from Clontarf Wines; Browns, Portlaoise; JJ O Driscoll, Ballinlough; O Learys, Cootehill; Hole in The Wall, D7; www.quintessentialwines.ie Quintessential Wines, Drogheda, for €12.95.

Lovely soft juicy blackcurrants and red cherries. Refreshing and ripe, with no tannins. Ideal everyday wine with all kinds of red and white meats. A stuffed filet of pork or bacon with parsley sauce both sound good.

I like Dao. When properly made, it is light and refreshing with very tasty dark cherry and plum fruits. There are expensive versions, and some of these are very good. But most are incredibly cheap given the quality and offer great value. These are very food friendly wines that won’t break the bank; perfect for a wet Wednesday. This one is made from three local grape varieties, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo) and Alfrocheiro.

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Tags: Alfrocheiro, Dao, Jardim de Estrela, Portugal, Quintessential Wines, Red Wine, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional

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Pinot Grigio 2015 Roberta Fugatti, Trentino
Posted by admin on March 24, 2016
12%
€14.15

Lovely fresh textured melon fruits with a zesty acidity and a crisp dry finish. Brilliant inexpensive all-purpose wine.

If only all Pinot Grigio tasted like this. Our shelves are full cheap mawkish versions that seem to satisfy a demand for wine that tastes of very little and therefore won’t offend. I have been following the Fugatti for a few years now – it is proof that you can make good Pinot Grigio at a reasonable price.

Available from Sheridan’s Cheese shops; 64wine, Glasthule; Blackrock Cellar; Rua Deli, Castlebar; Ashe’s of Annascaul.

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Tags: Italy, Pinot Grigio, Roberta Fugatti, Trentino, White Wine

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Finca el Paso Garnacha 2015, Carineña
Posted by admin on March 24, 2016
13.5%
€13.95

Lovely ripe juicy strawberry fruits with a tannin-free finish. Light enough to drink on its own, but big enough to take on red meats. This would be perfect if you are having a gang around.

Available from Searsons Wine Merchants, Monkstown; 64 Wine, Glasthule; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; The Drink Store, D7; The Wine Shop at One Pery Square, Limerick.

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Tags: Carinena, Finca El Paso, Garnacha, Red Wine, Spain

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16 Stops Chardonnay 2014, Adelaide, Australia
Posted by admin on March 18, 2016
16 Stops Chardonnay 2014, Adelaide, Australia
12.5%
€13.99

Unoaked, with clean fresh apple and peach fruits. Good everyday drinking. Perfect on its own or with fish and white meats.

It has been a while since I wrote about an Aussie wine under €15. Over the last few years, the strong Australian dollar had pushed prices up. At the same time, it seemed as if the quality of entry level wines was not quite as good as in earlier years. This seems to be rectifying itself; certainly I was happy to come across this wine and the 16 Stops Shiraz at a very keen price.

Available from Blackrock Cellar; Miller & Cook, Mullingar;
Fresh Outlets; On The Grapevine, Dalkey; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; La Touche Wines, Greystones; Le Caveau, Kilkenny; Martins, Dublin 3; The Malt House, Trim; Power & Co, Lucan; Redmond’s, Ranelagh; 64Wine, Glasthule; Searsons, Monkstown; World Wide Wines, Waterford.

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Tags: 16 Stops, Adelaide, Cgardonnay, Liberty Wines, White Wine

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16 Stops Shiraz 2013, McLaren Vale
Posted by admin on March 18, 2016
16 Stops Shiraz 2013, McLaren Vale
14%
€13.99

Rounded dark fruits with a touch of spice and a smooth finish. As with the white, a crowd-pleasing, all-purpose wine to serve on its own or with a wide variety of foods.

Available from Blackrock Cellar; Fresh Outlets; On The Grapevine, Dalkey; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; Kelly’s, Dublin 3; La Touche, Greystones; Le Caveau, Kilkenny; Power & Co, Lucan; Redmonds, Ranelagh; 64Wine, Glasthule; Sweeney’s, Dublin 11; Searsons, Monkstown; World Wide Wines, Waterford.

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Tags: 16 Stops, Liberty Wines, McLaren Vale, Shiraz

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