Wine with Leslie: Buy wine 'in bond' to save money and as a treat for later on

Plus this lively and crisp Pinot Grigio is a bargain this month

Buying 6 or 12 bottles and watching the wine evolve is hugely rewarding.

Italian wine this week, on foot of two excellent tastings. Tindal Wine Merchants who own Searsons Monkstown held a brilliant ‘Anteprima’ tasting recently with samples of Barolo that are not yet available but can be ordered ‘in bond’ — meaning you pay the wine price now and the duty and VAT when it arrives. I find this an excellent way to order wine as the pain is halved. All the wines are from the very solid 2018 vintage — all producers are recommended but my favourites were probably Porro (see below), Rocce Costamagna and Cavallotto. Contact Searsons on 01-2800405, [e-mail]

Selections this week are three fine examples of Nebbiolo, all making their debut. Barbaresco may be beside Barolo but their wines tend to drink earlier and display a little more floral softness, but it really depends on the producer — the wine here is a fairly textbook example. Barolo can be deliciously floral also but with a bit more heft and tannic structure — buying 6 or 12 bottles and watching the wine evolve is hugely rewarding.