Six Wines, Five Countries. A weekend’s Drinking

Ch Martinolles 2015 Limoux Chardonnay
A nice rich textured Chardonnay that will feature in my Irish Times online piece this Wednesday. €15 a bottle in Molloys.

Keller Riesling Trocken 2013, Rheinhessen
Brilliant pure citrus and minerals in a thrilling wine. €22ish from Cabot & Co and Grapevine Dalkey.

Fusco 2015 Ribera Sacra 2015, Mencia
V firm mineral and tightly bound piquant dark cherry fruits – I reckon this needs decanting or a year or two in bottle. All there though.

Puszta Libre 2015, Austria
Cool bottle and design from Austrian producer Claus Preisinger
The internet tells me, through my very unreliable German, that this is Austria’s answer to Beaujolais. Made from Zweigelt and Sankt Laurent, it should be drunk like a white wine, cold, without thinking. I did so, and it was a delicious mouthful of crunchy ripe plum fruits. Not sure as to price, but this is right up my street. Perfect with the Sunday evening roast chicken.

Port Phillip Balnarring Pinot Noir 2012, Mornington Peninsula
€29.95 from Whelehan’s., Loughlinstown.
A vivid seductive wine that improved as the evening went on. Light in style, with piquant dark cherry fruits and a nice savoury bite.

Crozes Hermitage Blanc 2011, Alain Graillot
I paid around €30 for this in Mitchell & Son. I was a bit disappointed; this is usually a lovely wine. It had light citrus and lean apple fruits, but I was hoping for a little more. Now I have an excuse to buy another bottle.