Weekend wine with Blake Creedon

THERE was startling news last week in London-based trade paper The Drinks Business.

It reported that Professor Roger Corder, author of The Wine Diet, had spoken out against red wines sold in supermarkets saying they were “cheap imposters” and “little more than white wines pretending to be red...”

Wine fans, and connoisseurs of media nonsense, will be suspicious of such general sweeping statements. If they read on, they will discover that such vague suggestive statements are the stock-in-trade of Corder who is, by the way, involved in a wine retailer which happens not to be a supermarket. There aren’t any untruths in that article nor, as far as I know, in Prof Corder’s other outlets, including his Vinopic website — but they are so stripped of context as to be utterly misleading.

This week on blakecreedon.wordpress.com, I’m focusing on the hype and nonsense that surrounds wine. While we’re at it, let’s enjoy a handful of cracking bottles — and in honour of Prof Corder, some of them happen to be available in supermarkets.

Castellani Grillo Chardonnay IGT

Dunnes Stores on promotion at €6.99 An organically-grown grape in a crisp and fresh white wine beautifully fleshed out with chardonnay.

Le Moulin des Cossardieres Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie

M&S , €9.99 Grown where the Loire meets the Atlantic, Muscadet is a most under-rated seafood wine, including this beautifully textured one.

Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc 2007

Tesco, €10.99 One of the jewels in Tesco’s crown, this South African chenin is a beautifully balanced fruity and spicy white.

Compte de Monteney Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Aldi, €12.49

One of the most highly-regarded ‘classic’ appellations, CdeP often fails to live up to expectations. But this bottle is a handsome savoury juicy red.