Wine on Wednesday

This week three great wines I have enjoyed recently, but don’t have a slot for in The Irish Times before Christmas.

Calibre 12, 2020 IGP Aveyron, Caveau du Mas

€19.50 From Terroirs, Donnybrook

A supple, vibrant medium-bodied red wine with juicy fresh dark fruits, a savoury peppery note and a rounded finish. A bargain for less than €20. Abv 13% Biodynamic

Made from a blend of Syrah, Gamay and the local Fer Servadou, this comes from the Aveyron, a wild sparsely populated region in South-West France.

Rubio 2020, San Polo, IGT Toscana

Concentrated pure dark cherries and blackcurrants; some well-integrated firm tannins that call out for food. This opened out nicely over an evening and went very well with our venison steaks.

€23-25.95 from Whelehan’s, Loughlinstown; Blackrock Cellar; Higgins, D14; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; Redmonds, D6; Pinto Wines, D9; Wineonline.ie.

From one of the top estates of Montalcino, a very attractive unoaked Sangiovese that offers a touch of Brunello at an affordable price. Abv 13.5% Organic.

Beaujolais Lantignié Pierre Bleue 2021 Frédéric Berne

€24.95 from Worldwide Wines, Waterford; wineonline.ie

Classic, delicious Beaujolais with lively crunchy dark cherry and blackberry fruits and a nice easy finish. A true vin de soif. Perfect solo or with cold meats, cheeses etc. Abv 12.5%