RED NOSE WINE

RED NOSE WINE

My call to Gary Gubbins at his Red Nose Wine premises in Clonmel last week began with a lovely cup of Pónaire coffee made not far away in Annacotty. Pónaire, by the way, is the Irish for bean and Gary also sells this prize winning coffee here but, of course, his main business is selling wines.

The company motto is: Life is much too short to drink bad wine. Gary works hard at ensuring his Tipperary customers, along with his on-line fans, get that little something extra.

It would be easy to go for their big producers and the well known brands but small producers around the world put a great deal of hard work and time into their wines and often come up with gems. Gary spends quite a deal of his time searching out these good wines for his discerning customers whose opinions are sought and respected.

I agree with Gary here. I have spent extended holidays in France over the last three summers and have seen the hard work and care that goes into producing wine on these usually small family run farms. It is good to be able support them and their counterparts in other countries. Important too, if wine is not to go the bland way of mass produced beer.

Gary’s shop customers can taste before they buy: “Tasting is a large part of our communication mechanism and we have a wine tasting area open every day in our retail wine warehouse, with between three and five wines to sample on any given day.”

Needless to say, I sampled a few and I’ll be letting you know about some of them in the near future. In the meantime, why not call to the shop or have a look at the website.

There are bargains to be had, particularly among his new Australia wines, all subject to a 20% cut for the month of August. I like the look of the Bleasedale Range from Langhorne Creek but famous wines areas such as the Barossa and McLaren Vale are also represented in Clonmel.

If you have a special occasion coming, Gary can cater for that too. He has champagne and Prosecco and don't forget the connoisseur’s corner. So why not call in to the Business Park in Clonmel and sample that coffee before or after a tasting.

3 REDS FROM THE ANGELS OF VENTOUX

3 REDS FROM THE ANGELS OF VENTOUX

Heading south to Provence at the end of the month and felt the need to get in a bit of wine practice.

Headed south (a wee bit shorter) to Karwig Wines of Carrigaline the other day with that mission in mind and I picked up three reds from the Irish owned and Irish managed vineyard Domaine des Anges, in the Mont Ventoux region of Provence.

 More about des Anges here.  By the way, if anyone has any tips for Provence – wine or otherwise - I’d be delighted to hear from you. I’ll be based near Arles.

The three reds, also available at  Red Nose Wines and maybe other independents, may well come from the field of angels but the pleasures they give are rather earthly (not that I’ve had any experience of the other side!)

Domaine des Anges Le Tricolore Ventoux AC, 2008, Grenache/Syrah, 13.5%, €11.60 (Karwig Wines)

 

Of the three wines, this is probably the most user-friendly, satisfying both the novice and those more acquainted with the slightly deeper side of wine. Colour is medium red and the nose is fruity (woodland fruits mentioned on label!) On the palate it is light and spicy, dry enough to give a nicely balanced easy drinking wine.

The photo of the Domaine shows where three flags hang outside: the Irish and French tricolours and the EU standard. Funnily enough, there is no sign of the producers name on my bottle and le Tricolore is not listed in the website wines. Grape Varieties: 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah.

Domaine des Anges, Ventoux AC Rouge 2006, 14.5%, €12.75 Karwig

Colour is medium to dark red while the nose finds a discreet red fruit mix. On the palate it is subtle and tender, smooth, rich enough with fruit, the tannins discreetly do their work to balance it up and there are moderately spicy notes in the long finish. A well made wine for sure, a friendly wine for drinking with friends as it hinted in the literature.

Karwig tell us that the grape varieties are 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah. “A rich, deep, garnet colour. The nose a mix of raspberries , cranberries, chocolate, liquorice and subtle notes of thyme and rosemary. The flavours carry through on the palette, with tannins are that are full, ripe yet velvety smooth. The finish is soft, round and long.”

Domaine des Anges “Archange”, Cotes de Ventoux, 2006, 14%, €19.20, Karwig Wines

This blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache is best of this well made trio and has been highly praised. It is more complex than the other two. Colour is a rich dark red with a pleasant nose of black fruits. In the mouth, it is fruity, juicy and spicy, a really smashing wine. The Syrah has spent 12 months in French Oak barrels of which a quarter are new. 

EASTER WINES

EASTER WINES


The team at From Vineyards Direct have come up with really attractive offers to bring even more cheers to the Easter Weekend. Orders received prior to 1pm on Wednesday will be delivered prior to 6pm on Thursday, just in time for the weekend.........and don't forget, one can't buy any alcohol on Good Friday !!

 Dominique Geary is happy that  “our selection of five wines will suit all budgets and will  happily marry with traditional  Easter Fare”.

BORDEAUX v BERGERAC

THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOURS: BERGERAC v BORDEAUX

Chateau Laulerie

Over the years Bergerac winemakers have been overshadowed by those of neighbour Bordeaux. When talking up an underdog, it does no harm if you have a couple of heavyweights in your corner. I have.

Hugh Johnson: Bergerac is a good value Bordeaux lookalike.

Robert Joseph: The second class status of Bergerac today owes more to the efforts of Bordeaux merchants to discriminate against it than to the quality of its wines.

Maybe then we should look at Bergerac wines more often and, in fairness, quite a few of our independent wine importers do their bit but are up against the long standing big names of Bordeaux and as we know the big names are usually the big sellers.

As you may guess, I like my Bergeracs, including local stars such as Pecharmant reds and the high class desserts wines of Monbazillac and Saussignac. But there is an opening in the ordinary entry level wines from Bergerac as often your basic Bergerac is better than the basic Bordeaux. Certainly as good.

I enjoyed a couple recently.

Chateau Laulerie, Bergerac 2006 (Merlot-Malbec-Cabernet Franc) 12.5%, 12 months in oak, including six in new oak. Deep red in colour and a promising fruity nose. On the palate it is fruity enough (plums) and reasonably well balanced; it is medium bodied with discreet tannins and a longish finish. PR: 85.

Chateau La Sabatiere Bergerac 2007 (Merlot – Cabernet) Louis Roche Collection bottled at Chateau Monbazillac, 12%. Ruby coloured with red fruit on the nose. It is juicy and slightly spicy, medium bodied and smooth with soft rich tannins and a reasonably long finish. PR: 82

A few days earlier, I tasted a 2006 Claret and a Superieur from the same year and then a 2004 Superieur (from Chateu Meaume, Reserve du Chateau), all Bordeaux. The first two were reasonable wines and the third had more to offer and was possibly on a par with the Bergerac Laulerie.


So if these entry level wines are of much the same standard, what is the incentive for the consumer to switch to Bergerac? The answer to that should be lower prices as Bergerac doesn't command the same level as Bordeaux. So watch out for Bergerac reds (and the whites also) and you should save yourself a few euro without sacrificing quality.

Got my Chateau Laulerie on Brittany Ferries on the way home from the Bergerac area where I had purchased the La Sabatiere (in the boutique at Chateau Monbazillac, a recommended visit if you are in the area). I don’t have a full list of local stockists but know that Karwig Wines and Red Nose Wines carry some Bergerac  wines.