A FEW BARGAINS FROM THE O’BRIENS SEPTEMBER WINE SALE

A FEW BARGAINS FROM THE O’BRIENS SEPTEMBER WINE SALE

Xovial Albarino, Rías Baixas
€10

Fresh zesty dry wine with attractive plump pear fruits. It wouldn’t compete with the best wines of Rías Baixas (such as the Pazo de Señorans, €22.95 from O’Briens) but it is very nicely priced, and went down well with fishcakes and dill mayonnaise.

Leyda Garuma Sauvignon 2013, Leyda Valley
€11.95

Leyda make some excellent exuberant fruit-driven wines in the Leyda Valley. Crisp refreshing gooseberries and grapefruit with loads of lime zest. One for the Savvie lovers to enjoy.

Bethany Semillon 2010, Barossa Valley
€12.95

The Bethany Semillon is now starting to take on some delicious mature toasty, nutty flavours that combine beautifully with the lime zest and tropical fruits. Very well priced. Perfect with all manner of seafood, but salmon in a buttery sauce sounds good.

Jaspi Blanc 2012, Terra Alta
€9

I haven’t tried this for a year or so, but it was great back then, and I suspect it is as good, and a steal at this price. A well-made crisp refreshing dry white wine with white peach fruits for €9? You cannot go wrong.

Borie de Maurel 2014, Pays d’Oc Cuvée Luna
€10

Concentrated ripe wild fruits, an attractive earthiness, wrapped around a mineral core. Very Languedoc and very seductive. A steal at €10.

Ch Belles Eaux Les Coteaux 2012, Languedoc
€11.45

A big, powerful, full-bodied red wine with rippling supple meaty dark fruits, dried herbs and black olives. Classic Languedoc at a very keen price. Decant just before sitting down to a nice juicy rare steak.

Norton DOC Malbec 2013, Uco Valley
€12.95
Medium to full-bodied and smooth with ripe dark fruits, milk chocolate and spice. The perfect wine for the last barbeque of the season.

Arpège de Marsau 2010, Côtes de Bordeaux, Francs
€14.95

Rich smooth blackcurrant fruits, with a touch of spice and a nicely rounded finish. Relatively full-bodied for a Bordeaux, this is a nice wine and very good value at less than €15. Drink with roast red meats. A leg or shoulder of lamb would be a lovely weekend treat.