Chat-en-Oeuf Vin de Pays d’Oc
There are one or two things I will miss. Chief among them will be pot-roasted pheasant with a bottle of red Bordeaux, or perhaps a bottle of one of the more elegant Cabernet Sauvignons from Chile or Australia. Fresh game birds such as pheasant, partridge and wild duck will soon disappear from our shops as the shooting season closed at the end of January.
The English Market in Cork and some of the better butchers around the country should have stocks for another week or two, so I have recommended a couple of suitable wines below, should you wish to have one last winter feast.
One thing we can look forward to in 2013 is the calendar of events for The Gathering. While it is easy to be cynical about much of what is planned, wine lovers can rejoice that L’Atitude Wine Bar on Union Quay in Cork have arranged for a number of wine makers with Irish connections to return to Ireland to show off their wares.
Jean Charles-Cazes of Chateau Lynch Bages is first up with a tutored tasting to be held in the Grain Store in Ballymaloe on Sunday, Mar 10 — book now is my advice.
Further wine events in association with The Gathering are still in planning at the time of writing but I will do my best to keep you up-to-date with the most exciting of them over the coming months.
To finish on a slightly sour note, all wine outlets around the country have now used up almost all their pre-Budget stock so there are a lot less bargains around these days.
Finding decent wine to recommend for under €10 has become a lot harder but there will always be a few special offers around, or at the very least wines that punch above their weight, such as the ones below.
* For the diary: New Zealand Wine Fair (27 producers), Thursday, Feb 7, at the Radisson Blu, Golden Lane, Dublin 8, from 6.30-8.30pm; Admission €16, contact: jean@jeansmullen.com
Stockist: Superquinn, Independents
Ripe juicy aromas of black fruits with a hint of spice. Fruity and warming on the palate with complex bramble fruit and more than a touch of elegance in the finish. Of course a fine Chateauneuf-du-Pape would be richer but this still tastes well above its price bracket.
Stockist: O’Donovans
Merlot and Cabernet blend which weighs in at 14% alcohol which is a little richer than most inexpensive Bordeaux. Aromas of cherries and plums, soft on the palate with more plums mixed with hints of spice, elegant fruit character and a gentle structure.
Stockist: O’Donovans
Ripe Sauvignon Blanc aromas of gooseberries and green apples with fresh crisp fruit on the palate and good zingy acidity. This also has a little Semillon which is just perceptible on the nose and in the creamy lemony finish.
Stockist: Supervalu
The Albarino grape from Gallicia in north west Spain is always worth exploring and I was charmed by this floral scented version from Supervalu. Despite the fragrance and the rich fruity palate the finish is dry and the flavours linger.
Stockist: O’Donovans
Classic left bank Bordeaux with green bell-pepper aromas and flavours of blackcurrants melded with pink peppercorns and spice. This easily has a year or two left in its development so buy two — one for now and one for this time next year.
Stockist: O’Donovans
Penfolds are arguably Australia’s most consistent producer and this Cabernet does not disappoint. Intense blackcurrant and cassis fruit on the nose and palate with spicy cedar and vanilla from the 12 months of barrel ageing. Despite the ripe fruit this is elegance and sophistication personified.
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