INCREDIBLE VALUE

INCREDIBLE VALUE

Casa Solar Viura 2010 Vdt Castilla 11.50% €7.99 

Stockists

This is an excellent white wine at an incredible price.

Colour: Strikingly bright; light honey.

Nose: Inviting fruity bouquet, including grapefruit.

Palate: They sum it up as alive and refreshing on the back label and I couldn’t agree more. Really fresh and fruity with a good slash of tartness.

This is an excellent combination in the mouth and further proof for Hugh Johnson’s theory that Spanish whites are very much on the up. “Spain,” he says, “is discovering that...she has a talent for whites of flavour and depth.”

“In five years time,” he concludes, “we’ll all be drinking them.” But thanks to the “talent spotters” of Wine Alliance we don't have to wait that long. This is now on the shelves nationwide at a very reasonable €7.99. 

SPANISH STARS

FROM THE SUN HOUSE

From Castilla, Wine Alliance have raided the Casa Solar and once again the boys have come up with the goods. Talking here about a pair of worthy Tempranillos that were tasted recently.

Castilla Casa Solar Tempranillo 2008 VDT, 13.5%, €8.99, 

stockists

Colour is ruby with a black cherry and plum nose plus hints of vanilla. On the palate, it is fresh and fruity, smooth and round. It is well balanced with a good finish. An easy drinking wine, but one with backbone. It has spent 6 months in American oak, is well structured and comes at a terrific price.

VDT denotes table win in Spain but it is not as simple as that. As in other countries, many producers use the less restrictive rules of VDT to produce excellent top of the range wines. Some details here. 

Castilla Casa Solar Tempranillo 2010 VDT, 13%, €7.99, 

 stockists

Had started with the 2008 and had expected the 2010 to be somewhat less of a mouthful. Must admit I was wrong and indeed ended up with a slight preference for the newer unoaked wine.

Colour is once again a dark red but here the nose is more of red berries. On the palate, it is young, juicy and smooth. And a strong hint of sweets as the tannins are low. It is really easy drinking but don't forget it packs a 13 per cent punch.

They recommend it for white meats as well as red and I reckon it would be fabulous, slightly chilled in summer with a bowl of ripe strawberries on the outside table.

WINE ALLIANCE MAKE SOLID DEBUT

Free 12 bottle competition at bottom of post. CLOSED TODAY FRIDAY MARCH 11th at 2.00pm. WINNER IS HELEN KELLY - congrats!!


WINE ALLIANCE

Maurice O’Mahony, director of Wine Alliance, is known for his sweet tooth so it was appropriate that we met up at a local Glanmire cafe called The Cream for a look back at the first six months trading for the wine import and distribution company.

Was he and Galway partner Frank worried as the launch of the company approached last August? Would Wine Alliance even move in the recession doldrums?

“Yeah, some people said we were mad. But we always wanted our own company and we are passionate about wine. Frank, who had set up the company, was looking for a partner. It was still a big thing for me but after two years in Karwig Wines where I got great experience and left as a good friend, we knew what we were getting ourselves into and besides we had sourced some wines that we were confident would punch above their weight.”

“The first six months have been kind to us. We love what we do and growth has been good. Now we have 25 to 30 outlets, spread all over the country, predominantly in the Off Trade and Wine Shops and also in restaurants.”

What kind for reception did you get in the market-place?

“Well, aside from the few asking if we had taken leave of our senses, and some of those were joking, we have been hugely encouraged by our reception. Other people in the trade, Karwig for example, have been extraordinarily generous with their time and advice. Customers keep coming up with good tips and help. The wine trade is as competitive as any but still people in it take the time to be helpful and we appreciate the time and advice that they give.”

Your entry levels wines opened the door for you?

“Well yes, but we do have wines that deliver at every price point, from our Portuguese entry levels at €6.99 right up to our Kangarilla Road bottles. Packaging is attractive and helps our wines stand out but, yes, the entry levels did open the door for us, established us as reliable and made it easier to sell the more expensive wines.”

Anything exciting in the pipeline?

“Yeah, the pipeline is positively buzzing. We have new Italians and New Zealand on the way, followed by some superb stuff from the Barossa, a lovely new Prosecco and some good wines from the Rhone Valley and Languedoc-Roussillon. Now, we are even being approached by producers to take on their wines but we are lethally rigorous in our selections and will remain so.”

What are your own stand-out wines from the range?

“I must say that the Kangarilla Road Devil’s Whiskers blew me away. I have a soft spot for the Stellas as they opened more accounts for us than anything else and it is a great wine for the price. When we introduced Stella, we had just eight wines in our portfolio. Now we have 40 and expect to have between 50 and 60 at year’s end.

You have some good news for our readers?

“Yes indeed. We are putting up 12 tasty French bottles,six red and six white,  and all you have to do to be included in the draw  is go to our Facebook page here. ..and like us. Simple as that. But you must be over 18 and remember that we can deliver only to Republic of Ireland addresses. Good luck!”

Spanish Kiss

SPANISH KISS

Cariñena Beso de Vino Macabeo 2009 2009 12.5% €9.99 

stockists 

From the ancient kingdom of Aragon in Spain, comes a white wine that offers you a fresh and fruity kiss (Beso). This bullish little number is out to impress and I like it! Chances are  you will too.

Colour: Pale yellow, with greenish hues.

Nose: White fruits

Palate: Fruity and fresh, mainly melon and citrus. Very smooth and pleasant with a good balance and a decent long finish.

These are my amateur notes above, now for the professional view.

These are Jay Miller’s Tasting notes: "There is one white wine, the 2009 Beso de Vino Macabeo, aged in stainless steel. It gives up aromas of mineral and citrus, particularly fresh lime. This is followed by an intense, savory, and balanced offering that will provide pleasure over the next 12-18 months. Grandes Vinos y Vinedos' collection is replete with stunning values".

Miller was tasting it for THE WINE ADVOCATE ROBERT PARKER and he awarded it 88 points. Great value at €9.99!

TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME!

TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME 

Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, McLaren Vale, 14% ABV, €15.99 RRP, ****

Just in time for Valentine’s - a tall, dark and handsome visitor from South Australia.

Colour is dark red and the aroma is of dark fruits and a hint of mint. Rich dark fruits on the palate, it is a smooth well balanced wine where the tannins play their role with a pleasant ease, all ending in an equally pleasant lingering finish.

Couldn’t ask for anything more from this highly rated winery. The wine itself doesn't do too badly either and picked up 90 points from Wine Spectator. It is rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and has been aged for 18 months in both French and America oak.

In the past few months I have tasted other products of Kangarilla Road and have been very happy with them. So if you like this one why not try these:

Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2008, 14.5%, €15.99, McLaren Vale (Aus.)

Kangarilla Road Charlie’s Blend Shiraz Cabernet 2008, 14%, €11.99, McLaren Vale (Aus.)

Kangarilla Road Leaf Series Shiraz (15.99) or the 2Up Shiraz (11.99).

Distributed by Wine Alliance and available in Off Licences at independents nationwide.

MARGARET RIVER GEM, plus dessert duel!

MARGARET RIVER GEM 

plus dessert duel!

Pat Whelan’s Brandy and Cream Sauce is delicious with a

EATING IN

CHEZ MOI

Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.

With so many top class food producers now operating in the area, plus the English Market on our doorstep, eating in can often be every bit as good as dining out.

Take last night for example. We have some brilliant soup makers locally, including Just Food in Cobh. Just a few miles over the road, we have Cully and Sully and it was their White Winter Vegetable Soup that we picked up in Dunne’s Stores. This winner of the Global Sial D’Or, for the World’s best new product, is made largely from potato, onion, celeriac, parsnip, leek and cauliflower and the Ballymaloe traditional essentials butter and cream.

The outside of the 400g pack, by the way, is packed with info and even a recipe and all for €2.49. Just pop it in the micro-wave for a few minutes and you have a gorgeous starter.

The main course, Mediterranean Fish, took a bit longer. Got some lovely hake from Ballycotton Seafood in the Market. The recipe came from the packed November edition of Easy Food, which cost just €3.00 and is well worth it. The other easily obtained ingredients were: cherry tomatoes, red onion, olive oil and basil pesto. This was satisfying dish and simple to make. Compliments to the chef and to Easy Food, not to mention the hunter gatherer!

We normally drink white wine with fish and we tried out a bottle of Adria Pinot Grigio 2009 (one of the new range being imported by Wine Alliance and available in quite a few outlets, including Bradley’s in North Main Street, for €9.49). It is an excellent example of this Italian wine and a great match for the hake.