Wine: Picpoul de Pinet 2013, Languedoc — €10 (was €12)
Dunnes also has some good Bordeaux, particularly from the Borie-Manoux group which includes the two 5th Growths Chateau Batailley and Lynch Moussas as well as brands such as the always drinkable Beau-Rivage (€9.50).
Chateau Batailley 2008 costs €55, around a tenner reduction, and although still quite young this Pauillac is already showing some rich black fruit and has a taut complex palate — one for the cellar.
In a similar vein the Cru Bourgeois Chateau Beau-Site St Estephe 2008 (€30) had some fine light plum flavours mixed with classic green pepper and pencil lead Cabernet fruit that will soften with time.
Also worth buying is Horizon de Lynch Medoc 2011 (€12.50) and Chateau Les Artigues Medoc 2012 for €11.
For everyday drinking look to the Languedoc and the Rhone. The wines of Maison Lorgeril for example include some good varietals (eg, the 1620 Pinot Noir at €10) but their jewel is the 17th C. Chateau Pennautier in Cabardès, an appellations that allows 50% Bordeaux varieties.
From Burgundy I found the Pierre Ponnelle range good for its price and from the Loire I liked the Sancerre Cuvee Max Roger which might not sound much of a bargain at €18.50 but this is what Sancerre is supposed to taste like — flinty, mineral and fresh yet balanced with good fruit and finesse.
Finally in larger stores you should find 50cl bottles of Dulong Sauternes for €11.50 — this honeyed rich dessert wine could perhaps do with a tad more acidity but it is still remarkable value.
If all this French wine doesn’t appeal SuperValu has a sale on New World wines with good value from Nugan Estate and the Aresti Trisquel range.
September 8, Chapoutier Wine Dinner in Montys of Kathmandu, 28 Eustace Street, Dublin 2. Five courses for €50, tel: 01-6704911
This is new to the Dunnes range and well worth a try given how fashionable this crisp Languedoc wine has become in recent years. Despite the warm climate Picpoul always has good acidity and this is no exception but it also has lovely herbal, stone fruit and citrus aromas and a crisp peach-influenced palate.
I’ve mentioned Laurent Miquel wines before and all are worth trying. The 2013 Nord Sud seems more generous than the 2012 with a fine complex Syrah nose of blackcurrants with touches of tar and a generously fruity palate. I particularly liked the clean fruity lingering freshness.
Dunnes stock a range of wines from this venerable Chateau in the Cabardès region near Carcassonne. For your last rosé of Summer you want a little more flavour and this delivers — fragrant red fruit aromas, solid rich palate with touches of tannin mixed with stewed raspberries. Blindfolded you might even mistake this for red wine.
This is the second wine of Chateau Marsac-Séguineau a small but respected Margaux property. Classic cigar box and cedar aromas mixed with blackcurrants and violets (the archetypal aroma of Margaux). Complex generous palate with good fruit for such a young wine, I liked this a lot.
Believe it or not you are meant to drink this with ice cubes. Moet et Chandon began the trend with their demi-sec Ice Imperial brand which was finally given wider distribution this summer. This is also made in a demi-sec style but the sweetness is dulled by the ice offering lively fruit-driven flavours. Best drunk on a sunny day.
This is a blend from two Premier Cru Chablis vineyards — Vaillons and Montmains, both highly regarded. Premier Cru Chablis is often seen as the pinnacle of Chardonnay as the oak is dialled up a little too much in Grand Cru Chablis. Complex lime and mineral stony aroma with a soft bright palate and lingering lemon mineral finish.
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