Weekend wine with Blake Creedon
So the store’s French Wine Sale is always worth checking out — and especially this year as the range has been augmented with some new wines, two of which are included in my highlights below.
It’s that time of year, and Tesco also has a wine sale on. My tips would include some great value New Zealand sauvignon blancs from Villa Maria and Oyster Bay at only €8.
At SuperValu, the World Of Wine promotion continues until Sunday October 16. My suggestions are online at www.irishexaminer.ie/weekend and there are further highlights on my blog at wordpress.blakecreedon.com.
* There’s a great value wine dinner at the Conrad Hotel on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin on Wednesday at 7pm, when David Hohnen, one of the people behind New Zealand’s legendary Cloudy Bay, will introduce wines from his latest venture, McHenry Hohnen Vineyard in Margaret River, Western Australia, paired with a five-course dinner. It’s only €60 a head so book now on 01-6028900.
* CAVA Restaurant on Dominick Street in Galway is the venue for a special Spanish evening in conjunction with Cases Wine Warehouse on Thursday from 6pm to 8pm. They’ve put together a five-course tasting menu accompanied by a tutored tasting through wines from the Rioja, Cariñena and Bierzo. Tickets (€30) from Cases (www.cases.ie) on the Tuam Road, or from Cava on 091-539884.
* An evening of fine wine, fine cheese and fine theatre is promised when Isabelle Sheridan of On the Pig’s Back in Cork’s English Market and Denise Quinn of TooDog Theatre Company present Bardot Bites at On The Pig’s Back at St Patricks Mills, Douglas, Cork on Friday October 14 at 8pm. Book now (€20 or €35 for two) on 021-4617832.
* We’ve met the wines of Mas De Daumas Gassac on this page before — arguably the greatest name in Languedoc wine, and you may remember Aime Guibert from the film Mondovino. His son, Samuel, is presenting some of their top-class wines at a dinner at Inch House, Thurles, Co Tipp, at 8pm on October 20 (€60 from 052-6182939 or gary@rednosewine.com) and on October 21 he’s in Ballymaloe, Shanagarry, Co Cork with a tasting at 7pm (€15) and dinner at 8.30pm (€85). Contact Ballymaloe 021 4652531; or Curious Wines, on 021-4320233 or mike@curiouswines.ie.
There’s nothing wrong with chardonnay and sauvignon but it’s time to discover other top-class white grapes such as this pair from the south of France: Both are naturally floral and fleshy, but this blend is a handsomely discreet, mildly spicy treat.
I’m not sure I’d pay full price for this but it is tremendous — beautifully crisp and well-balanced fresh Bordeaux blend — and is certainly terrific value at its sale price of €8.
Just as France is one of Superquinn’s strong suits, so the southern Rhone stands out as a source of affordable quality. Showing up plenty of its Chateauneuf-du-Pape neighbours, this is spicy and fruity set against a fine, firm taut structure.
Arguably the biggest ‘secret’ vineyard in France is the Loire — offering some terrific subtle styles such as this very pretty subtle sauvignon blanc.
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