Category: General News
The Perfect Summer Red – A Pinot Noir At A Tasty Price
Wine editor MARY DOWEY selects this French PINOT NOIR as her bottle of the week …
La Boussole Pinot Noir Les Grandes Côtes, Pays d’Oc 2015
A fruity Pinot Noir served very slightly chilled is just the thing to enjoy with dinner on a summer evening. As France celebrates Bastille Day it seems only right and proper that this weekend’s recommendation should come from the home country of Pinot Noir – although, with cracking value in mind, I’ve picked a bottle from the south of France rather than Pinot’s pricier home turf, Burgundy.
You may be thinking south of France, endless sunshine, ultra-ripe grapes, jammy flavours… Until this wine first crossed my lips I had the same suspicions. But I’m happy to say they’re unfounded. Alongside wonderfully pure notes of strawberries and violets, La Boussole delivers mouthwatering freshness. There’s nothing remotely over-sweet or jammy about it. That’s because the grapes that go into it are grown in some of the Languedoc’s coolest vineyards up in the hills around Limoux.
I like the fact that there’s a hint of smoke about it which would make it an excellent partner for grilled foods of many kinds. I like its smooth texture. I like the gentle but persistent grip of fine tannin in the finish that makes it palate-cleansing. I like the alcohol level, a very manageable 12.5% – a figure once commonplace for reds but now relatively rare. And I like the price. Full marks to well-known winemaker Claude Serra for putting all these elements together with élan.
Slip a bottle of Boussole into the fridge half an hour before you eat. Tuna, chicken, high-class sausages, even a bowl of lentils with smoky bacon will taste all the better for its company.
Alcohol: 12.5%
From Listons, Dublin 2; Green Man, Dublin 6; Blackrock Cellars, Blackrock; Le Caveau, Kilkenny & lecaveau.ie; MacGuinness, Dundalk & dundalkwines.com; Bradleys, Cork, €13.45-€14.
John Wilson – Irish Times – 10/02/17
Albizu Tempranillo 2015, Spain
I have a weakness for unoaked (or very lightly oaked) Rioja. I love the lively aroma, the pure cherry fruits and the refreshing acidity. They come to together to form an easy-drinking but sophisticated wine, great for sipping alone or for drinking with a variety or red and white meats. This example, made by a Rioja producer, from grapes grown within the region, doesn’t actually have the name Rioja on the label, but it certainly tastes like it. Worth buying in quantity for the season ahead.
Available for €11.95-€12.95 from Mitchell & Son; Avoca Rathcoole; Le Caveau, Kilkenny; Baggot St wines; Blackrock Cellar; Corkscrew; Fallon & Byrne; Listons; MacGuinness; Green Man; 64 Wines; World Wide Wines.
Wine of the Year- Monasterio de las Vinas Blanco
Gold Medal Award winning wine at Irish Wine Awards.
Delightful white wine from the Carinena Region of north east Spain made from the Macebo grape variety
Wine Tasting – Domaine Des Anges – Sat 19th Nov 2016
Come along to our Nouveau Domaine Des Anges event with Cheese and Rugby with owner Gay McGuinness and Winemaker Floret Chave on Sat 19th Nov 2016.
REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT VIA FACEBOOK – CLICK HERE
Kings of The Cape
We are delighted to be listed as stockists for these highly recommended wines from South Africa.
Meerlust Rubicon Stellenbosch 2010 RRP €39.95 Our Price €37.50
An Iconic wine produced from the Bordeaux grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot & Cabernet Franc with great ageing potential.
Majors Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 RRP €18.95 Our Price € 17.50
Full bodied dark powerful spicy wine , perfectly balanced which masks the potent alcohol with a lingering finish , not for the faint hearted
Liam Campbell – Irish Independent – Saturday August 13
Irish Times recommends
Vire Clesse “Cuvee Special” 2013 Domaine Andre Bonhomme
John Wilson highly recommends this wine in his article about Chardonnay in this weekend’s paper.
Also called the “The Meursault of the Macon” is produced from old vines ( average age 50 years) . This is a natural wine with a hint of oak and only one third of the permitted level of Sulphites.
These two Macon villages ( Lugny is the third) amalgamated to produce their own AC wine in 1998 , however John Wilson claims to have enjoyed it for 20 years , great man John
Recommendations
We are delighted the following wines were recommended in the weekends wine reviews
Meranges 1er Cru Pinot Noir ” La Fussiere” €27.50
Sinfully delicious Burgundian Pinot Noir . As there is only a small production availability is restricted to specialist Wine Merchants .
Chateau de Cedre Heritage Cahors €15.50
Chateau de Cedre is one of Cahor’s leading wineries and this wine from the Malbec grape is exceptional value
Catena Malbec Mendoza €16.00
Delicious Malbec produced from Catena’s elevated vineyards in the Andes and is recognised as one of Argentina’s best Malbecs
Chateau Fontbonne “Bordeaux AC”
Chateau Fontbonne Bordeaux AC €15.00 On Offer at 2 for €25.00
This small family vineyard produces very well made everyday wines reflecting the characteristics of the wines from this region.
The white wine is made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape and the red from the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties
Galius “St. Emilion Grand Cru” 2012
Just arrived in stock
Chateau Galius ” St. Emilion Grand Cru ” 2012
A delightful blend of 50 year old Merlot and Cabernet Franc grape varieties aged in oak for added complexity.
Superb elegant wine with soft tannins and great length on the finish
Normal Price €30.00 On Offer at only €26.00
