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Vidal Reserve Syrah 2013, Hawke’s Bay, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand

Posted by admin on March 9, 2017

Vidal Reserve Syrah 2013, Hawke’s Bay, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand

Elegant savoury dark cherry fruits and spicy black peppers with a very attractive grainy texture and some drying tannins on the finish. An impressive almost European style of wine.

It was certainly much better with food, in my case a roast guinea fowl.

Gimblett Gravels has emerged as one of the best places in New Zealand to produce red grapes (leaving Pinot Noir aside). The deep gravel soils produce perfectly ripe wines with uniquely savoury flavours and balanced alcohol levels – this wine is 13.5%. They are well worth seeking out. At €17.35 this is something of a bargain, and should appeal to fans of the Northern Rhône. Available from Winesoftheworld.ie.

Tags: Barry & FitzWilliam, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand Syrah, Vidal Reserve Syrah 2013, Wines of the World

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Agustí Torelló Mata Cava Reserva Brut 2011

Posted by admin on March 2, 2017

Agustí Torelló Mata Cava Reserva 2011

11.5%

Light brioche with toasted almonds, delicate fruit, a subtle creamy texture and a dry finish. Delicious wine; not trying to be Champagne, but every bit as good at the price.

The perfect light aperitif, or with lighter tapas.

This is one of the leading family-owned Cava estates. Based in the Penedès, they remain loyal to the three traditional Cava varieties, Macabeu, Xarello and Parellada. This Cava is a blend of all three, aged for a minimum of two years before release. This is one of the finest Cavas I have tasted in years, and well worth seeking out.

Available for €29 from Mitchellandson.com (online only) and Sheridan’s Cheese shops, Dublin, Meath and Galway.

Tags: Agustí Torelló Mata Reserva 2011, Cava, Grapecircus, Mitchell & Son, Sheridans Cheesemongers

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La Bicicleta Voladora Rioja 2015

Posted by admin on March 2, 2017

La Bicicleta Voladora Rioja 2015 (organic)

13.5%

Marvelous medium-bodied wine with delectable pure late summer fruits, underpinned by a subtle mineral streak. Made in a style that is right up my street.

A good all-rounder with an affinity for red meats, grilled lamb chops or a roast leg perhaps?

This wine is made by Germán Blanco of Quinta Milú, one of my favourite winemakers in Ribera del Duero. There, and now in Rioja, he makes delicious wines that sing with pure fruits. This is fermented in cement tanks and is completely unoaked. It is mainly Tempranillo, but includes a small percentage of Viura, a white grape. €16.50. available exclusively from 64 Wine, Glasthule.

Tags: 64wine, Germán Blanco, La Bicicleta, Rioja, Spanish red wine, Vinostito

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Beaujolais Villages Blanc 2015 Domaine des Nugues

Posted by admin on February 23, 2017

Beaujolais Villages Blanc 2015 Domaine des Nugues

13%

Delicious gently fruity unoaked wine with a lovely texture, a fine minerality and an excellent finish.

The perfect aperitif, or with salmon in a herby butter sauce.

White Beaujolais, once a rarity, is becoming easier to find in this country. The best examples combine a lovely freshness, a minerality and delicate pure Chardonnay fruits. I have recommended the Jean Paul Brun Terres Dorées before. It is available from Wines Direct. Domaine des Nugues makes some excellent, classic (in a good sense) red Beaujolais, elegant and balanced; his white is every bit as good.

€17.30 from Martins, Fairview; 64 Wine, Glasthule.

Tags: Beaujolais Blanc, Chardonnay, Domaine des Nugues, Nomas Wines

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Monteraponi Baron’ Ugo 2014, Chianti Classico, Organic

Posted by admin on February 23, 2017

Monteraponi Baron’ Ugo 2014, Chianti Classico, Organic

12.5%

€34.50

Delightful fresh light Chianti with smooth dark cherry fruits, good minerality and a soft easy finish. Not a wine that will age, you would imagine, but drinking beautifully now.

We drank it with grilled lamb steaks with spinach and hummus.

I am told that the single vineyard Baron Ugo is usually bottled as a Riserva and retails for around €70. 2014 was not a great vintage, so Monteraponi downgraded it to a Chianti Classico and halved the price. A great label too, but apologies for my poor photography.

€34.50 from Sheridan’s Cheesemongers.

Tags: Chianti Classico, good minerality and a soft easy finish. Not a wine that will age, Monteraponi Baron' Ugo 2014, Organic 12.5% €34.50 Delightful fresh light Chianti with smooth dark cherry fruits, you would imagine

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Via Arxentea 2015, Monterrei, Spain

Posted by admin on February 16, 2017

Via Arxentea 2015, Monterrei, Spain

13%

€18.50

Refreshing crisp dry wine with plump melon and pristine green apple fruits. A perfect balance of crisp and soft that bites and comforts at the same time.

A great aperitif, with shellfish, or white fish – hake or cod. I had mine with hake, served with spinach and mussels in a buttery sauce.

Monterrei is a very small D.O. in Galicia in North-west Spain. Its neighbours, Rías Baixas and then Valdeorras, have grown in populrity for their excellent white wines. I suspect Monterrei will be next. In the warmest and driest part of Galicia, Monterrei produces both red and white wines, the red from Mencía. The white wines, generally a blend of Godello and Treixadura (Dona Blanca is also permitted), combine the richness of the former and the crisp acidity of the latter in a very attractive way. This is a 50/50 blend of Treixadura and Godello.

Stockists; Sweeneys, Glasnevin; The Coach House, Ballinteer; 64wine, Glasthule; Liston’s, Camden Street; Baggot Street Wines.

Tags: 64wine, Baggot Street Wines, Godello, liston's Camden Street, Monterrei, Spain White Wine, Sweeney's Glasnevin, Treixadure, Vina Arxentea, Vinostito

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Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains 2013, Robert Groffier

Posted by admin on February 16, 2017

Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains 2013, Robert Groffier

Succulent rich, lush dark cherry fruits, balanced perfectly by just enough acidity. Soft and rounded, drinking beautifully now.

With grilled duck breast and mushroom risotto.

I made this a wine of the week in the Irish Times but possibly didn’t realise then just how good it was. I tasted it early one morning, rushing to get copy finished. It was very nice, and well-priced. I Coravined it and tried it again the following evening when it opened up beautifully. Although a Passe-Tout-Grains, and therefore a Pinot Noir/Gamay blend, this apparently was made from 90% Pinot Noir in 2013. It is a dead-ringer for a high-quality Bourgogne Rouge, and excellent value.

Stockists: Greenacres, Wexford, www.greenacres.ie

Tags: Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains, Greenacres Wexford, Robert Groffier

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Chablis 1er cru Vaulorent 2014, La Chablisienne

Posted by admin on December 15, 2016

€36 from Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; 64 Wine, Glasthule; Redmonds, Ranelagh ; The Vintry, Rathgar ; Grape & Grain, Leopardstown; Clontarf Wines; Sweeney’s; Thomas, Foxrock ; Shiels, Malahide ; McHughs; Wine House, Trim.

A large certain section of the Irish population buy Chablis every Christmas simply because it is a safe recognisable name. Nothing wrong with this, although the cheap supermarket versions are not exactly thrilling and there are plenty of far more interesting alternatives. Unless you come across a really good Chablis such as this one. Fresh and floral on the nose, with a fine racy minerality and lightly honeyed peach fruits, finishing long and dry. Wonderful wine, and perfect to start the Christmas fesitivites. Drink alongside smoked salmon, prawns and other seafood, but ideally I would like a half-dozen oysters.

Tags: Chablis, Chalbis 1er cru Vaulorent, La Chablisienne

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La Rosine Syrah 2014, Stephane Ogier, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes

Posted by admin on December 15, 2016

€31.95 from Searsons, Monkstown; No. One Pery Square, Limerick; 64 Wine, Glasthule; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock.

Stephane Ogier produces some of the finest Côte Rôtie and other wines in the Northern Rhône. This is one of his less expensive wines, made from vineyards outside of the more glamorous appellations. It is a beautifully elegant wine (12.5% alcohol) with savoury dark cherry fruits on nose and palate. Ready to drink now, this is an impeccably balanced wine. Try it with turkey if you wish, but it would also go nicely with goose or pork dishes.

Tags: Collines Rhodaniennes, Jus de Vine, La Rosine, Searsons Wine Merchants, Stephnae Ogier, Surah

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Fossil 2013, Vale de Capucha, VR Lisboa, Portugal

Posted by admin on December 8, 2016

€16.95 from Green Man Wines, Terenure; Baggot Street Wines; Gibney’s, Malahide.

A light herbal nose, textured on the palate with peaches and a strong saline mineral element.

Drink with all manner of seafood.

Located eight kilometres from the Atlantic coast, the Vale de Capucha vineyards are maritime and humid. Pedro Marques aims for wines that reflect both climate and the limestone soils. His white wines are fascinating; textured and broad, with complex fruits. They are a world away from the aromatic Sauvignon Blancs that are so prevalent. Warning: stocks are being eeked out as the producer has run out. Also available in Heron & Grey, Bastible, L’Ecrivan, Black Pig Wine Bar and other restaurants. If you can’t find it, seek out his other excellent white wine as featured in my blog of 11^th March last.

Tags: Fossil, Fossil Vale de Capucha, Pedro Marques, Portuguese white wine, Vale de Capucha, VR Lisboa

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