We enjoyed this with Dinner @ Yoi Izakaya
Nice dry clean Pale Rose with lots of berries.
Robbie sampled this as an aperitif. It was served hot, you could taste the Fermented Rice, and improved as it got colder.
Pity about the Grizzly Steak Teriyaki. Izayaka charge €6 corkage on BYOB.
Mellow Merlot from Down under, surprisingly good.
Brian McGuigan’s signed a lot of bottles before he retired!
The nice thing about Pot Luck is you get to try wines that you wouldn’t really risk E20 or more on and there have been some nice finds, the downside is that you can come across some dross too.
SA Bulk wine bottled in France. Bland, brutally boring Merlot.
Grapes from Negotino in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and bottled in Slovenia.
High alcohol (14%), this was a nice find in the wineonline.ie potluck sale.
One to watch, though they need a label designer – there is a competency in creating a nice wine here.
http://puklavecandfriends.com/en/our-wines/cabernet-sauvignon-merlot
The pinnacle of the big stone?
A dinner party bring. Lovely Satiny tannins, slightly tart fruit.
A Merlot (85), Cabernet Franc (15) blend, blended and bottled by Maison Delor
The very smooth Long Eared Owl.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah.
We offered this to the Collets and Calders at Dinner.
Sean like it. So did I, lovely mouth feel, slightly sweet fruit with a spicy hint.
Maker here
O’Briens, €15.99, now €11.99
We also served the reliable La Baume Sauvignon blanc
Had this with Lesley, Liz and Brian to accompany a Bombay Pantry Special on our return from Portrush following the excellent Barranore Merger fest at the weekend.
Surprisingly good. Dull colour but nice aroma and flavour of vanilla, good fruit, dry with nice aftertaste.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, amongst others – so the label claims.
I suspect an exclusive to Dunnes where I spotted it on the shelf in Cornelscourt and was enticed by the Irish Pedigree.
According to wikipedia: “Chateau Batailley and Chateau Haut-Batailley were part of the same property until they were split in 1942. Since that time, Chateau Batailley belonged to the Borie Brothers company and then solely to Mr. Marcel Borie. After the death of Mr. Borie in 1961, his son-in-law, Mr. Emile Casteja managed the estate until his son Philippe Casteja took over. Philippe Casteja is the current manager”.
Which explains the Emile Casteja signature / pedigree. Dunnes – €12.
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.
Reserve Saint-Clair Puisseguin Saint-Emilion 2010
Puisseguin (puis-gan) allegedly means “hill with the powerful wine” in folklore and is one of the strictest appellations in Bordeaux.
This estate is under the wing of the Yvon Mau company, itself part of the Freixenet Group
Mainly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.
Slightly sm-oaky nose, fresh fruit, and solid dry structure.
A regular Tesco offer, buy it only when it’s on offer.
From the House of the Three Crosses, dating from 1712.
In the charge of Patrick Leon and his family since 1995.
85% Merlot, Cabernet Franc 15%.
Purple color. Very rich and intense nose of ripe fruit and raspberry.
Beautiful, full bodied with a long rewarding dry finish.
Lovely mouth feel.
A delight.
A dinner gift from Mr Collet.
McConkey Wine 