A Super Valu ‘special selection’ exclusive. Full on red berries with a hint of Vanilla and a big oakey finish.
2008
Sangre de Toro, 2008, Cataluyna, Torres
This wine is like dinner with an old friend. Warm, reliable, unpretentious, comfortable.
In taste too.
Nice back story: Bulls Blood, from a tribute to Bacchus, Son of the Bull.
Man O’War Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008
Man O’War Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008 Waiheke Island New Zealand
Waiheke Island is an island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand which looks more like a Polynesian Hideaway than a working vineyard. This wine is the Man O’War vineyard’s bordeaux blend: 42% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Very nice it is too. Dark blackcurrant colour, sweet tang from the Merlot, followed by rich fruit, dry rich mouth, tar macadam after taste.
O’Briens exclusive / Irish Distributor. Slightly pricey.
Lunch & Dinner @ Casa Tre Sorelli. Sagrantino di Montefalco 2008 – Spolettoducale. Passito 2006. Greshetto 2011, La Murola, Marche
Sagrantino di Montefalco 2008 – Spolettoducale
A 100% Sagrantino from the dead centre of Umbria: the throbbing smell of sweltering heat in a glass backed up by a berry nose.
Quite strong at 14.5%, Ruby Red, lots of blackberries in the nose – still can’t taste the supposed Blueberries!
Lovely rounded structure.
Sagrantino di Montefalco. Passito 2006.
Desert in a glass: deep purple, very mellow and intense sweet wine – not at all cloying.
A very nice Passito.
2011 Greshetto, La Murola, Marche
A stalwart from the La Murola winery which we visited in Urbisaglia a few years back.
Refreshing, lots of apricots, pleasant with lunch or as an aperitif.
La Murola Sangiovese Novello 2012
Donald & Dale treated us to this Vino Novello, Italian for Young Wine, also from La Murola.
Similar in style and thinking to a Beaujolais Nouveau, which some people get sniffy about, this is produced all over Italy and released on Nov 6th every year, unlike in France where it is released @ 00.01 on the Third Thursday of November
We chilled it – and despite its old (!) age it was a light and fruity, red wine perfect with lunch in the hot weather.
Marques de Montino Rioja Reserva 2008
Ready to drink now, slightly rusty / over the hill.
No legs and I would have expected a fuller body from a Reserva.
Nonetheless, not unpleasant and had a decent mouth feel and delivery.
The label didn’t give a lot away and it looks like a co-op, though the address suggests it could be this winery.
The blend is the Rioja standard of Tempranillo and Garancha.
Fish this out from under the stairs and enjoy it now before it oxidizes futher.
Valiano Chianti Classico 2008 Sangiovese
Christmas and New Year 2012
A motley cru of wines we enjoyed over Christmas and into the new year:
It’s a sparkler, classy:
One of the most reliable wines of the last few years. From Cellar Master. Alan tells me this is the House Wine in Rick Stein’s of Padstow. Smashing grapefruit hit, if you like that kind of thing.
Consistently good claret. Half Merlot, half Cabernet blend. Silky, unobtrusive. Went well with New Year
Always reliable, the Old Widow:
Nice and light, in-offensive and not unpleasant (!):
Vouvray (Chenin Blanc from Vouvray) is a style that appears to have disappeared from fashion, a shame, because this was competent:
Looks imposing but a pussy cat. Enjoyable, but didn’t live up to the cover:
A real stonker, explosive nose, great length, powerful stuff:
This Berbera by Berro from Piedmonte was very pleasant. Must research it properly.
In honour of our Spanish guests, we served the Marques as the Red with the Christmas Dinner. Consistently good.
This was surprisingly good value in Baan Thai, Leopardstown, where we had our annual Christmas catch up with John & Susan
McConkey Wine 