Ruby Red Stars of Northern Spain

Ruby Red Stars of Northern Spain
Three gems


For reviews of the white wines, please click here

Pittacum, Bierzo DO Spain, Mencía 2007, 14.5% abv, Importers: Classic Drinks.

This Pittacum, bottled in the spring of 2008, is the money-maker as some 180,000 bottles are filled. It is 100% Estate grown Mencía and is worth looking out for.

The fruit comes from 50 to 80 year old vines and it has a ruby red colour with a gorgeous aroma, plums and violets prominent. There is a hint of chocolate in among the velvety fruits on the palate and a terrific finish with vanilla showing. Highly recommended.

Click image to enlarge

Pittacum Aurea, Bierzo DO Spain, Mencía, 14% abv, Distributors: Classic Drinks.

This is even better, the fruit grown from very old vines in the heart of the DO. There is a complex intense nose, fruity and spicy. The flavours are lush: cherry, strawberry and plum.

It has spent at least 14 months in French oak, is silky and with a lengthy finish. You should really try and sample this special wine, which has limited production of just 15,000 bottles. Very highly recommended.

Quinta Sardonia, Castilla y Leon Spain, blend*, 15% abv, Distributors: Classic Drinks.


The very first sniff, and after that I tended to sniff before each sip, tells you there is a little magic in this bottle from Quinta Sardonia. The inviting aromas are both fruity and floral at the same time. Irresistible!

This is a concentrated and powerful wine, well rounded on the palate, where the fruits (cassis, cherry and plum) combine well and there are pepper notes and hints of vanilla from the sixteen months in oak.

This is undoubtedly one of the best ones I’ve tasted this year, beautifully integrated oak, tannins and acidity, with a full finish and a warm after-taste.

Beg or borrow or steal but do get your hands on one of those 44,000 bottles. Unlimited recommendation!

* Blend: 52% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.

More: QUINTA SARDONIA is a member of the TERRAS GAUDAGroup and producer of high-end wines based on the principles of biodynamic agriculture. 

The philosophy of this Ribera del Duero winery, set up under the guidance of Peter Sisseck, who was involved in the project design together with renowned French enologist Jerôme Bougnaud, is to develop unique wines that express all the richness of the terroir and that can be identified with the parcel where each variety is grown.


Just got an update on prices and locations for the reds and whites available here. 



Abadia San Campo RRP €18.99 -€19.99


Stockists


Caviar House, Dublin Airport


The Woodford Bar, Cork


The Mill wine Centre, Maynooth


Boqueria, Cork


Pinocchio Restaurant , Dublin 6





Terras Gauda O Rosal RRP €21.00 -€22.00


Stockists


Farmgate Restaurant, Midleton


The Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore


The Riverside Hotel, Killarney


Jacobs On the Mall, Cork





Pittacum Mencia RRP €17.99 - €18.99


Stockists


Ananda Restaurant, Dublin 15


The Merrion Hotel, Dublin 2


The Hotel Europe, Killarney


Kenmare Bay Hotel, Kenmare

PIRATES SCORE ON CORK GOURMET TRAIL

See some more photos, these by Billy MacGill....here

CORK GOURMET TRAIL 

Captains Sylvia and Sandra

Scores of pirates gathered in Cork City on Saturday. But their intentions were benign. Make the most of the inaugural Cork Gourmet Trail  was the mission and it was accomplished with much fun, thanks to our merry captains.


First call was to Soho in mid-morning where a Pannier Champagne reception was laid on. There was a pirate hat competition running and early favourites emerged at the photo call. Champers downed, the gathering was divided into three crews and marched out on to the streets.


Led by feisty captains Sylvia and Sandra, our crew wandered peacefully through the side streets until we reached Greens by the Waterfall where the host restaurant was joined by Isaacs and the Rising Tide in dishing up the grub. The grog, as was the case in all four venues, was sponsored by Classic Drinks.


On then to the Boardwalk – nobody had to walk the plank – and the impressive line-up to feed the villains here was Club Brasserie, El Vino, Augustine’s and The Boardwalk Bar and Grill. 

Sing for your supper

Next host was Electric, again through the side streets including a stop in Oliver Plunkett Street and a song which earned the singing pirate a meal out for two!


More music at Electric where Pa Fitz entertained and where the high standard of food was maintained by Jacobs, the Ambassador, Soho and Electric itself. Still one more food stop to go and that was at the Cornstore where the providers were Amicus, Fenns Quay and Cornstore.


About five o’clock, the different crews re-united upstairs at the nearby Bodega to compare notes and the bounty – some restaurants, including Jacobs and Electric, gave out meal or wine vouchers – and listen to the band. The quiz and costumes winners were announced and the Bodega management offered everyone a free drink.

Pat Fitz at Electric

It was a very enjoyable day and very encouraging for the organisers. Looks like one that will be repeated. Personally, I enjoyed every moment, from that first starter of Jack McCarthy Black Pudding with Apple Sauce by Isaacs to the final Chocolate Mousse in a mini-cornet by Fenns Quay.


Tried hard to sample everything; don't think it was possible. My favourite of those that I did try out was the Chicken Balti with the French Morteau sausage by Augustine’s. Isaac’s breaded lamb chop and Electric’s cold sea bass dish were other favourites.

Classic Wines

But I was just one of many and others spoke to me of enjoying their particular favourites and I heard that the Tapas type offerings of some restaurants went down very well, the Boardwalk’s steaks were popular was were the Chinese offerings of the Ambassador.


Something for everyone then and nice to see some chefs trying something different such as the “Gravalaix of Tuna in a Nori seaweed” by the Rising Tide and the different take on the Seafood Chowder by Greene’s who also had a terrific Beetroot Soup on their table.


Just a word of praise to Classic Drinks who not alone kept the thirsty crews well lubricated but also took the trouble to post up plenty of information about the wines and varied the offerings from restaurant to restaurant, usually matching a red with a white from the same area. In Electric for example, they had a Muriel Blanco 2009 along with a Muriel CVC Rioja 2006.


So a big thanks to Classic, to Pannier, to all the restaurants and especially to the organisers! Just picked up a message in a bottle down the quays and it reads: Let’s do it all again next year!