Adria Vini “Palazzi”

THERE is an old adage about the wine industry that if you want to make a small fortune, you need to invest a very large one first.

Peter Boland set up Cases Wine Warehouse in August 2007 in the death throes of the Celtic Tiger. Somehow he has gotten through the last six years and is still going strong with new wines being added to his list all the time.

All the wines in Cases are either exclusive to them or available in just one or two other outlets. For example he shares the Dom. Des Anges wines with Curious Wines in Cork (another excellent wine warehouse). Peter does sell to restaurants also and you will find many of his wines in the better restaurants in Galway such as Aniar and Cava (which is due to re-open soon).

I tasted my way through the Cases list recently and found much to admire. It is strong in Spain and Italy with some lovely wines from the Marche, Piedmont and from Sicily.

France is also quite strong and I liked the good value (for Alsace) Dom. Charles Baur Riesling and Pinot Blanc, and their heady Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris.

From Burgundy Cases stock the well regarded house of Fougeray de Beauclair. These are not cheap but the quality is up there with many more famous (and pricier) houses.

If you are looking for New World wines there is the Autoritas range from Chile of which I preferred the reds over the whites, although I quite liked the Chardonnays.

Delivery nationwide is through their website www.cases.ie or you can call into the shop on the Tuam Road in Galway. There are two prices for the wines below, the cheaper one is available, provided you buy at least 12 bottles.

* For the diary: Wednesday, Sept 18, 7pm — “It’s a Long Way from Clare to Here” — wines of the Clare Valley, with Australian wine expert John McDonnell at Hayfield Manor Hotel. Tickets €15. Contact Hayfield Manor. Phone: [phone]

Best Value Under €10

Adria Vini “Palazzi”, Sicily IGT — €8.95-€10.95

Stockists: Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway www.Cases.ie

Made from Chardonnay and Catarratto, the latter thought to be related to the Soave grape Garganega. Light, crisp and fresh with notable citrus and almond aromas and flavours. This would be lovely with a light seafood pasta dish.

Cantine Colomba “Granatello Bianco”, Sicily — €9.95-€11.95

Stockists: Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway www.Cases.ie

Another Catarratto blend but this time with Grillo. Aromatic and ripe aromas with lemon and a slight chalky quality. Apples, lemon and mineral on the palate and good length.

Boutinot “Dom. De Vedilhan” Languedoc — €9.95-€11.95

Stockists: Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway www.Cases.ie

This is Syrah with a dash of Viognier to add some fragrance. Solid ripe fruit nose with blackcurrants and decent complexity on the palate with lingering flavours of prunes and stewed fruit.

Best Value Under €20

Domino de Punctum Cab. Sauvignon, Graciano, Spain — €13.45-€15.45

Stockists: Cases Wine Warehouse Galway, www.Cases.ie

From La Mancha in Central Spain, dark and intense with smoky aromas of chocolate and leather. Good concentration and a nice acidity-fruit balance perfect for a meal with chorizo in it.

Fougeray de Beauclair Bourgogne Blanc 2011 — €16.95-€19.95

Stockists: Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway www.Cases.ie

Finding decent white Burgundy at a reasonable price is never easy. I loved this lemon peel scented, elegant and nervy wine for its flavours, but also because I could imagine how well it would pair with Sole Meunière or just some Moules-Frites.

Viticultors Del Priorat “Mas De Subirà”, Spain — €18.45-€22.45

Stockists: Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway www.Cases.ie

Priorat used to be one of the hidden gems of Spain but now that everyone knows about it, finding one under €20 is rare. This is vibrant and spicy, has lovely concentration and elegance and lingering subtleties.