Wine with Leslie: These are my top bottles to pair with your Easter dinner

Which wine should you pour this Easter?

Easter, roast lamb, and red wine is the classic springtime trifecta. But which red wine? In previous Easter columns I’ve suggested wines from typical lamb rearing regions such as Bordeaux, New Zealand, and of course Rioja and Ribera, but this year I’m suggesting malbec.

Ireland has strong connections with Argentina and they could do with a few of our euro while they attempt to kickstart their economy under their new president. I know that Javier Milei is a divisive figure among economists and I have no idea if his ideas will work but I’m rooting for him anyway. I always root for Argentina.

We all know about Argentina’s beef but don’t forget that lamb from Patagonia is almost as traditional in their cuisine, and can work well with punchy malbec. Slow roast lamb is actually better with a ripe malbec than claret in my view. If you need more reasons, then World Malbec Day was on Thursday last, and finally you should watch the brilliant Argentinian film The Settlers which is currently streaming on Mubi.

At a recent lunch hosted by the Argentinian Ambassador in her residence I discovered another side to Argentina’s cuisine: seafood. We feasted on Argentinian red prawns and Patagonian Toothfish imported by Glenmar Seafoods and with wines from Salentein provided by Mackenway.

I had forgotten how good prawns taste with buttery ripe chardonnay and was also impressed by the ripe cherry fruits in Salentein Late Harvest Pinot Noir. I recommend a chardonnay and two malbecs but do explore other grapes from Argentina such as its jasmine scented torrontés, black cherry and spice flavoured bonarda, raspberry scented pinot noir, creamy-lemony sémillon and crunchy cabernet francs. Viva Argentina.

Salentein Barrel Select Chardonnay 2021/2022, Uco Valley, Argentina €23.99

Argentinian chardonnay is often overlooked and rather underrated, it also ages well and gains complexity. This is part fermented in oak and steel tanks, has gorgeous sweet vanillin and melon flavours balanced by citrus and lime acidity — a perfect match for prawns, either Argentinian Red Prawns or Atlantic. Salentein Numina chardonnay (€32) is even better.

• Matsons; JJ O’Driscolls; 1601; Bradleys; Cashel Wine Cellar; Ardkeen; Cass & Co; McHughs.

Doña Paula Estate Argentine Edition Malbec, Mendoza €10-15

From a selection of sites in the Uco Valley with an average of 1350m above sea level. Hand picked with cold maceration and a low-temperature ferment and oak barrel ageing.

Dark fruit aromas with a touch of smoke and pencil lead, sweet berry fruit flavours with fine concentration and weight.

This is often on special offer, I’ve seen it for as little as €10.

• Tesco; SuperValu; Multiples

Malbado Malbec 2023, Luján de Cuyo, Argentina €24-25

From the high altitude rocky sandy Mendoza sub-region of Luján de Cuyo just south of Mendoza city.

This is from a revitalised vineyard first planted in 1975 and exemplifies all that is good about malbec at a fair price.

Violets, spice and black fruit aromas, ripe dark berry fruit flavours, supple, fleshy and layered with a pleasing crunchy freshness.

• No. 21; Deveneys; La Touche; Higgins; Independents

Beer of the Week

Kinnegar Jackrabbit 4% ABV, 500ml, €3.99

Any new beverage from Kinnegar Brewing is big news but they slipped this one by me somehow. Jackrabbit Ginger beer was quietly introduced in 2024 but I only discovered two months ago on draught.

This has a full-on, nose-tingling, ginger aromas, sweet pear flavours at first, but cut immediately by tangy ginger spice that lingers after each swallow. Refreshing and quite delicious.

• Bradleys; Castle; O’Briens; Molloys; SuperValu; Selected pubs on draught