Weekend wine with Blake Creedon

HERE’s a particularly good example of the top-class fun and great value offered by winemaker dinners.

On Wednesday November 2, Tim and Judy Finn from the Neudorf Winery in Nelson, New Zealand, will present a wine dinner at Star Anise restaurant, Bridge Street, Cork.

After a glass of bubbly you’ll be dining from a menu created to match some of their acclaimed wines (which retail from €20 up) and all for only €65 a head.

To book, call Star Anise on 021-4551635.

Coincidentally, the importer of the Neudorf range, James Nicholson, has just launched a range of new ready-mixed cases on www.jnwine.com.

Below are a handful of highlights from their site — note that prices vary depending on the size of order, and many of them are also stocked at Parson’s Wines, Carrigaline, Co Cork.

* TWO Irish wine importers and retailers — Curious Wines in Cork and Red Nose Wines in Clonmel — are collaborating to put on three great opportunities to meet wines and the people behind one of the Languedoc’s classiest names, Mas De Daumas Gassac. Samuel Guibert will present some of their wines at a dinner at Inch House, Thurles, Co Tipp, at 8pm on Thursday (€60 from 052-6182939 or [e-mail]). And on Friday he’s in Ballymaloe, Shanagarry, Co Cork to present a tasting at 7pm (€15) and a dinner at 8.30pm (€85). Contact Ballymaloe on 021-4652531; Curious Wines on 021-4320233, or [e-mail].

* People who like good wine and love a bargain should make sure they get to the Portuguese Wine Fair at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin 8 on Monday October 24 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Phone [phone] or email [e-mail] for details.

* You’ll find more details about these and other wine events on my blog at blakecreedon.wordpress.com. And if you want to share tips or have a wine-related query, please drop a line to me at [e-mail].

Turckheim Pinot Blanc 2007 Alsace, Approximately €12 with case discounts

Aromatic whites from along the French-German border make up one of the world’s great wine traditions. And among them, pinot blanc is one of the most shamefully overlooked, such as this one, all mouth-watering fresh ripe apple and spice.

Altosur Malbec Tupungato 2008, Approximately €11.85

This highly affordable take on Argentina’s signature grape, malbec, is a bargain even before you take those online case discounts into account — an alert, vibrant, fresh red fruit medley with a delicious undertow of savoury earthy notes.

Domaine de Salvard Delaille Cheverny 2009, Approximately €12

Yet again the Loire scores in terms of both quality and value. An unusual blend (sauvignon blanc and chardonnay) is given the traditional muscadet ‘lees’ treatment, resulting in a gorgeous creamy spicy white.

Pikes Red Mullet, Approximately €14.67

Pikes is one of my favourite Australian wineries, their range including astounding premium Riesling. In contrast, this joyous blend (shiraz, grenache, mourvèdre and tempranillo) is one of their more modestly-priced wines, fragrant rich and dense with fruit — but oh so amiable sweet-natured and easy-drinking.

Pikes White Mullet Clare Valley 2007, €14.67

This is the entry level white I’d suggest adding to your Pikes collection: like its red counterpart, it’s an eclectic blend but it works: tight, fresh sauvignon blanc and riesling providing an acute foil to the broader, rounder aromatic chenin and viognier.

Condado De Haza Crianza 2007, Approximately €20

No, €20-ish is not an everyday price but when it’s a special occasion I quite happily pay full bottle price of around €23 (both on the Nicholson site and in stores such as O’Donovans and Bradley’s in Cork). This is an outstanding wine of subtlety and depth, gorgeous tart fresh berries with a faint whiff of polished wood and black pepper.