Now and again the wine world and the political world collide, and politics being politics and collisions inevitable, this can mean one can find oneself treated to a wonderful all expenses paid event. One such collision took place in Cork last week, at the very comfortable Clarion Hotel. The Italian Trade Commission are trying to increase awareness of Italian Wine in Ireland, and with the help of Jean Smullen, a well known organiser of marquee wine trade events, they organised a tutored tasting. What is a tutored tasting as opposed to a regular tasting I hear you ask? A fine question, that someone somewhere surely has asked.

A Tasting vs A Tutored Tasting

A regular tasting involves tables full of wine, where everyone supposedly follows a very regimental anticlockwise routine, where we walk around a large hall talking to the importer or the winemakers, while supping and spitting. The true professionals make two trips, the first taking in the whites and the second the reds. I have not always been the true professional in this regard, and I would not suggest tasting a delicate Soave after a big Brunello di Montalcino. Anyway, this tasting was not of that type, for we sat at tables and had a neat array of tasting glasses in front of us. It was like being back at school. The glasses sat upon a mat and were numbered 1 to 6. There was a swarm of bottles to be seen but alas, our glasses were empty. Before the tasting, came the tutoring.

Let The Powerpoint Begin

There was a big screen set up and Helen Coburn, a well know authority on Italian wine, set about a very in-depth and fast as lightening PowerPoint assessment of the white wines of Italy. The range of grapes and regions and rules that are obeyed and rules that are ignored put instant validity to the need for a regional expert such as Helen. When many people think of Italian wines, they think Tuscany or Sicily or maybe the ever popular Pinot Grigio. That’s a fair enough assessment of what is popular in Italian wine, but like many things in life, there is always so much more. We flew through grapes such as Pinot Bianco, Cortese, Garganega, Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Greco di Tufo, Vermentino, Inzolia and Prosecco with speed and precision. For those planning a wine holiday, the regions included Trentino / Alto Adige, Piedmonte, Veneto, Lombardy, Marche, Umbria, Lazio, Tuscany, Campania, Sardinia and Sicily. So who thought there was only Pinot Grigio in Italy?

Italian Wine Map

There are many other white wine varieties grown in Italy that were mentioned but the varieties above are what we eventually tasted. I have a mass of notes on each wine, and I was happy to see a number of Red Nose Wine selections amongst the mix. We have been working very hard this last year to improve our Italian selection. Our €8.50 Pinot Grigio’s big sales are testament to the fact that the public like what we are doing. Rather than bore you with individual tasting notes on all wines tasted (there are many others who specialise in this), I will list of some of the words scribbled down in the frenzied tasteathon. Creamy, High alcohol, medium acidity, nervy, grassy, yeasty, fresh, good price point, lemon tones, crisp, dry, not enough fruit to the fore, fills the mouth. These of course were for the whites. All wines were spat out.

The Matching of the Food & Wine

After the whites were tasted and rated, we were then invited to partake in a matching of food to wines with Lorenzo Loda, the Italian sommelier from Thorntons Restaurant in Dublin. Little tasting plates were given out, consisting of olive oil, basil, authentic Parmesan cheese, salami and some almond cake. We then were given some Moscato, Gewurztraminer, Brunello de Montalcino and Barbera d’Asti wine. The aromatic Gewurztraminer swamped the olive oil, but was delicious with the basil. The Salami could not stand up to the rich Brunello, but was divine with the Barbera, as was the Cheese. The expensive rich Brunello really needs something like meat to counterbalance it. The Moscato and the cake were a match made in Italian heaven. Some classic Italian Wine – Food pairings include Soave & Risotto; Amarone & Rabbit ; Chianti and Wild Boar ; Verdicchio and Sea Bass to name a few.

Lunch & Parisian Tiramsu

Italian Food

At this point, the little touches of food only made me realise that I was starving, and there was a very Italian lunch laid on, with some classic dishes. I went for two helpings of Lasagne and some Tiramisu. When I lived in Paris, there was a local Italian restaurant that had homemade Tiramisu ( in rue Claude Bernard ) and a guarantee that if it was not the best you ever tasted, you didn’t pay for it. All I can say is that I always paid for it, and will on my next visit. The Cork version was nice, but I can still taste that Paris one. Mind you, in Clonmel we are spoiled for Tiramisu. Both Catalapa and Befanis have delicious versions.

The famous @Grapes_of_Sloth aka Paul Kiernan

The Mighty Reds of Italy ( as opposed to Manchester )

Anyway, full up and weary, I still had to face the biggest challenge of the day. The rich reds which made Italy famous. It was obvious that the Italian Trade Commission were footing the bill because they really opened up some special bottles. Pinot Nero, Lagrein, Teroldego, Nebbiolo, Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino ( Sangiovese clone), Montepulciano, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Allianico, Negroamaro, Primitive Salento, Nero d’Avola and even that old favourite Cabernet Sauvignon were all on show. The superstar regions like Barolo, Barberesco, Chianti Classico and Brunello stood side by side with the Lagrein and Lunelli wines of Trentino / Alto Aldige. The feast finally came to an end and I came out of the tasting a lot more knowledgeable than when I went in. I think that is one of the things that I really like about wine. While you might hold some assumption of knowledge on a particular area or variety, but there is still so much more to learn. Humility and the lack of assumption are two traits that I have found invaluable as I search for new wines. For anyone who wants to try these different Italian varieties ( or the traditional classics ), we have a very good range in stock, at all price points. You are more than welcome to visit and taste. The Italians have a wonderful saying, and Fellini made a film based on the saying, “La Dolce Vita”. In these trying times, we all need a little of the sweet life.

Don’t forget to log onto the blog at www.rednosewine.com/blog or follow the ranting on Twitter – www.twitter.com/rednosewine

For anyone who would like more information and can’t make it into the shop, please feel free to contact me at info@rednosewine.com

“Life is much too short to drink bad wine”

Red Nose Wine Article - Nationalist May 27 2010

I will now attempt to do something that I always said I never would. I am going to attempt to review a restaurant. In fact, I am going to review two of them. I was out and about this last week and had need of food in Cork and in Ardmore.
I let my iPhone and Twitter account lead me and found myself in Fenns Quay in Cork for lunch and then on bank holiday Sunday, in The Cliff House in Ardmore.

My inspiration for this blog came from Kevin Crowleys decision to review wines in his video blog. While visiting Kevin’s restaurant, Fenns Quay, I found myself in Cork, down to collect some wine from the bonded warehouse. I was early and the lads were away on lunch so i parked up and walked across Cork to just behind the courthouse and found Fenns Quay. This is the home of one of the famous Twitter Blind Tasting gurus. Kevin Crowley and Brian Clayton are credited with inventing #twebt, the Twitter Event Blind Tasting. There have been unsubstantiated rumours that Paul Kiernan, aka @grapesofsloth was a muse, but this could be more blatant self publicity from the media savvy Mr. Kiernan. Anyway, well into the 2nd paragraph and I haven’t even mentioned a piece of bread. Well, there was bread, and it was homemade, and both brown and white. It was very welcome and i polished it off very quickly. I was on my own, and away from the preying eyes of those who think I need to lose some weight. With that in mind, I saw a delicious looking oven baked open sandwich with chicken, bacon and relish. It came with salad and homecut chips. I was driving, and it was lunchtime, and a Wednesday, so I didn’t dare ask for the wine list. Having met Kevin at a tasting, and followed his guesses on #twebt, I had no doubt that it would be very good. It may be missing some French wines from the south, or some Loire Valley wines, but fear not Kevin – I know where you can get some.

My lunch at Fenns Quay

The service was friendly and efficient. The water was refilled without me asking. Always a nice touch. I should mention, the place was very busy and there was a great buzz about. I particularly enjoyed listening to the solicitor opposite me talk very loudly about her current case. I think the punk will go down for a long time. Irrelevant I hear you shout – possibly, but the food was not, in fact it was delicious. The portion was judged perfectly and the salad was very fresh indeed. I had a very nice espresso and was ready for road. It really was great value, and it is cheaper to eat in Cork city than it is in Clonmel. Choice is wonderful. Another nice touch was the homemade biscuit that came with the coffee. So I went away to collect my wine a satisfied customer. I was in and out quick enough, but not rushed.

The Sunday of the bank holiday saw a very different dining experience, not least because I was not alone. Myself, Mrs. RedNose and our 2 kids were out for a drive. We were originally heading to Dungarvan but the kids were having a sleep ( they are only 1 & 2 ), so we kept going, and ended up in Ardmore. When I knew that Dungarvan would be bypassed, I went about Tweeting @cliffhousehotel to see if there would be space. By the time we got to Ardmore, the response was back, and we went in to try the new bar menu. The place was packed, and with these views alone, it was easy to see why.

Mrs. RedNose and John on Cliff House Balcony ( the 2 yr old refused to pose)

I was a little bit apprehensive about bringing children that young into a Michelin Star restaurant, but Adriaan Bartels, the general manager was very happy to risk it. He may have regretted it for a 90 second period when my wife tried to feed John, who let her know that he was not quite ready to eat. Once again, apologies to the neighbouring tables. We got him back on board pretty quickly, and the homemade brown bread shut him up. I ordered a potted monkfish and Claire had the charcuterie. Since it was the weekend, I had a little glass of wine, the Tinpot Hut New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I knew this wine from my Liberty Wines tasting.

I was not sure what to expect from potted monkfish to be honest. I ordered as if I knew exactly what I was getting, but it was a leap of faith. However, experience has always taught me that a leap of faith with a great chef can be very rewarding. And so it was. The fish was served cold and marinated in a white sauce that balanced perfectly with the white fish pieces. I was very happy with my choice, but being a card carrying Irishman, I ordered some of the divine mashed potatoes on the side.

Potted Monkfish Cliff House

Claire had the charcuterie and this was recommended by the chef. Seeing as when we lived in France that she would always order charcuterie as a starter, I was not surprised. It was delicious with the cured ham and the pickled onions in particular shining. As I have mentioned, the place was jammed and it was great to see considering the current economic environment. But, to be fair, the prices were very reasonable for such a fine dining restaurant – €9.75 for the monkfish and €15 for the charcuterie. I even got a thank you from the chef, via Twitter after the visit. It turns out I was there very first Twitter booking.

charcuterie @ The Cliff House

I am glad to report that both Cork and Waterford are being well served by two fine restaurants. I would love to go back to them both at night, and have a crack at the wine list. I am sure that no matter how good it is, I would probably end up saying that it needed a little bit more Red Nose Wine. There’s time yet

“Life is much too short to drink bad wine”

Hello Lovers of the Vine. We are in the holiest of weeks, and whatever your decision regarding rugby, alcohol or Good Friday, Easter offers a great excuse to trade up and enjoy the finer wines with your dinner. I myself will be closing the shop on Good Friday, as the law requires it, but I have always taken it handy on that day. I like to take a step back now and again, and that’s a great day to take stock. Of course it also means that I can spend a few more Euros at the weekend without any guilt. Being Catholic can often lend itself towards delayed gratification and the sweet taste that can so very often follow the sacrifice. With this in mind, and the recession clearly ignored, I am going to discuss wines to match two of Easter’s more popular delicacies – lamb and chocolate.

Let’s carve up the lamb first and this has some classic pairings that are already engrained in the wine vocabulary. There are a number of reasons for this. Going back thousands of years, to ancient Greece and into old France, Spain and Italy, the most popular meat was lamb. The sheep often grazed in the vineyards so the pairing was almost instinctive. Go to Greece (or even your local kebab shop) today and there is quite a lot of lamb on the menu. But add to this practicality, and the fact that the flavour of the lamb lends itself perfectly to wine. My mouth is watering as I write this, and I am not sure it is for the wine or for the lamb. It could also be that I was in Cork all day and was delayed getting back to the shop and had no lunch. A packet of peanuts might also make my mouth water at the moment. I digress again, and it is back to the lamb and in particular the wine to accompany it. I think it would depend on the cut of lamb and how it is prepared. If money is no object, then I would suggest a Pauillac from the Medoc region of Bordeaux. If your budget can’t stretch to a 1st growth Château Mouton Rothschild or even a 5th growth Lynch Bages, then there are plenty of substitutes. There are lots of really good value Bordeaux wines out there and it is the dry tannic nature of the Cabernet Sauvignon that reacts so well with the lamb. Many attest to the minty herbal nature of Cabernet with the grassiness of the lamb, and others think this is a load of rubbish. Pinot Noir tends to show off different sides of the lamb, so if it is not overly lean, I think the Pinot Noir can offer some great flavours. Regardless of the grape, one thing that seems to run true is that a chewier meat should be matched to a chewier wine, and by this I mean a younger tannic wine. The meat will make the wines seem smoother than they would be on their own. Other wines that go with Lamb for much the same reasons are Spanish Rioja’s and Italian Chianti or Sangiovese varieties. The really great news is that I have a huge selection of all of the above at all prices. We will be opening some of them this week. What is sure is that if you are looking to show your red wines at their best, be they Cabernet, Shiraz or Pinot Noir, match them with some lamb and you have a head start.

If you are not too pushed on your lamb, and would prefer to think about all that chocolate you gave up for Lent, then read on. If you gave up both chocolate and wine for Lent, then I am about to blow your mind. I am going to match chocolate and wine. I will give you a few minutes to gather yourself, and then we will begin. Are you ready? Many would argue that the two are incompatible. In fact one of the first things I was warned against eating before wine tasting was chocolate, along with garlic and mints. The idea was that the intense flavour of chocolate overwhelmed the wine. In this instance I am talking about real artisan concentrated chocolate, in much the same way as I always refer to handmade wine. At least with chocolate there is a brand association with quality. Because it is a controlled environment, and the weather doesn’t play a big role, you can mass produce great chocolate, unlike wine. The bad news for all you white wine drinkers is that chocolate prefers red wine. Unless it is something like a desert wine or IceWine, you will be looking at strong wines, with a lot of body, ideally, a bit of Cabernet for that minty undercurrent. This is much the same reason it goes with lamb, and as an interesting aside, why mint sauce is often served with lamb. You are looking for harmony and complimentary behaviour. It is the aftertaste in the chocolate that you are trying to stand up to, and you need this edge in the wine.

A perfect example is Chateau Paradis (Cabernet and Syrah), from Provence which was featured in the Irish Times last Saturday. There was a nice little piece on Red Nose Wine and Chateau Paradis, which was wine of the week. A fantastic wine for Easter and a real bargain at 15.50 a bottle. It will go with both the lamb and the chocolate. Was that a subtle plug or was it overly aggressive? The wine is ridiculously cheap for the quality, so I am confident to take the Pepsi challenge against other wines at that price.

I had a great time in Fethard last week. Thanks to all the committee members of the Acorn Childcare Committee for letting me talk about wine to a room full of 150 women. I learned all about the different shapes a woman can have at the fashion show. I think women are possibly as complex as wine. Tickets for the Wine tasting with Samuel Guibert on April 14th are really moving, so don’t be disappointed and book now – only 10 Euros for a chance to meet and taste with one of the great winemakers in France today.

Don’t forget to log onto the blog at www.rednosewine.com/blog or follow the ranting on Twitter – www.twitter.com/rednosewine

For anyone who would like more information and can’t make it into the shop, please feel free to contact me at info@rednosewine.com

“Life is much too short to drink bad wine”

We are very excited to announce that Samuel Guibert of Mas de Daumas Gassac will be travelling to Ireland and Clonmel in particular for a very special tasting of Mas de Daumas Gassac wines. As well as the 2007 Red, we will be trying the new 2008 vintage, just released. We will also compare the 2008 White to the 2009. These are very special wines from a very special vineyard. The accolades for the wines stretch back over decades and too many to mention. A sample include :

“Daumas Gassac brought new ideas to the Languedoc by farming organically, using low-yielding old clone vines and planting a multitude of grape varieties to build complexity in their wines. The French magazine Gault-Milau called Daumas Gassac “Lafite Rothchild of the Languedoc-Roussillon” while the London Times argued that it tasted like a “Latour”; Hugh Johnson called it “the only Grand Cru of the Midi”, Michael Broadbent wrote “One of the ten best wines in the world” and Robert Parker, Jr. claimed it to be “Exceptional” and “One of the most remarkable non-appellation wines of France.” The Wine Spectator’s 1994 article on this region concluded, “Only four wines rated outstanding, and they are all from the same producer – Mas de Daumas Gassac, the undisputed star of the Languedoc-Roussillon.”

And for what it is worth, I agree. I had the great pleasure of visiting Gassac last year and saw for myself the magic in the valley.

Gary Gubbins of Red Nose Wine visiting Mas de Daumas Gassac

Samuel Guibert welcoming Red Nose Wine to Mas de Daumas Gassac

We will also be tasting a range of wines from the Reserve Red & White, Concept wines – Elise, Albaran and Faune, as well as the Guilhem Red & White wines. We will also have an exclusive first tasting of the new wine – Le Classic du Gassac. €10 per Ticket, payable in advance.
Contact Gary Gubbins by phone 052-6182939, email or call into the shop or to Nuala’s cafe for tickets.

For the week that’s in it, and even though we are a day after St. Patricks, I will talk about the Irish who have followed the dream and bought the vineyard in the sun. In fact, this topic is so close to my heart, I will even do a quick turn as an estate agent in the hope that Pat, John and the rest of the experts don’t decide to down tools in protest. Fear not estate agents of South Tipperary, as I will only discuss property in France, and in particular, vineyards in France. I can almost smell the lavender.

I mentioned the Irish owned Domaine des Anges in last weeks article and I won’t repeat myself as to the quality of these wines, but suffice to say that Tomás Clancy of the Sunday Business Post agrees and he has just raved about them in last Sunday’s paper. Did he gain inspiration from my article last week? The wines reviewed received huge ratings but unfortunately, he did not tell the Irish Business world that I stock them. If the world is listening, I do. I am also glad to say that they can also be found in one of the best restaurants in Tipperary. Befani’s on Sarsfield Street have the Red and White as part of their new organic section. Their imaginative menu will compliment these wines fantastically and I can’t wait for my next visit. But enough shameless publicity.

Other Irish people making a go of wine making in France include Sean and Caroline Feeley of Chateau Haut Garrigue in the Bergerac region. They are in the process of moving from organic to biodynamic winemaking and their quality rises year on year. You might have seen them on the cover of the Irish Times last year, at a Red Nose Wine Tasting or on the Nationwide TV program before Christmas. RTE sent out a crew to film the harvest and even though it is very hard work, they made it all sound and look very tempting. One of our own, David O Brien from Rosegreen brought the great Chateau Vignelaure back to life in the mid 90’s and it now sits alongside some of the icon wines of France. Their Rosé is also spectacular and if we manage to get a summer this year, this is one to savour. I hope you all called down to the Arches on St. Patricks Day to taste all of these Irish wines. Maybe it will give you a taste for the dream.

As I check my range of websites on current vineyards for sale, the first thing that strikes me is that there is a lot. It is a good time to be a buyer and in particular, a cash customer. There is a very nice Provence vineyard for sale with 100 acres and a large Mas ( farmhouse ) to restore for €1.2million. There is small Loire Valley house and vineyard for sale for €478,000. It also has an orchard, so you could give Bulmers a rattle on the side. However, if my ship came in, I think I would go for an 18th Century Maison de Mâitre with a vineyard and a pool. It has 11 bedrooms and lies near the coast between Cannes and St. Tropez. I think I would feel bad only paying the asking price of €2.6million. I’d offer them €3million just so I could sleep at night. To sleep, perchance to dream.

It is not all one way traffic – some winemakers actually move to Ireland. I have raved about Mas Daumas Gassac on many an occasion and the world famous wine was started by the equally famous Áime Guibert. He finds refuge from the heat of the Languedoc in Ireland, and in Cork to be exact. The family have a house near Bantry and he sails his boat in the summer. His son Roman spent part of his education in Rockwell College, and he tells me that he made regular trips to Clonmel to practice his English in Dannos. His older brother Samuel will be coming to Ireland on April 14th for a very special tasting. As well as the Grand Cru wines, we will taste their full range which starts from €9. I spoke to him this morning about the tasting and he was calling from Japan. I am very serious when I say that his schedule reads something like this: Tokyo – Buenos Aires – Paris – New York – San Francisco – Clonmel – London – Berlin – Madrid. This is a real rare chance to meet one of the very special families in wine and who are almost single-handily responsible for dragging the Languedoc out of the doldrums. It also helps that the wines are superb and really do have something for all budgets. Numbers will be limited so call in to reserve your seats.

Don’t forget to log onto the blog at www.rednosewine.com/blog or follow the ranting on Twitter – www.twitter.com/rednosewine

For anyone who would like more information and can’t make it into the shop, please feel free to contact me at info@rednosewine.com

“Life is much too short to drink bad wine”

An exciting one day food extravaganza is planned for Clonmel on St.Patrick’s Day Wednesday next the 17th of March. The fair will take place under the arches of the Main Guard and promises to be a treat for all the family. Along with the fine food available to try and buy there will also be Tipp Fm Roadcaster on the street creating a unique atmosphere reminiscent of years gone by. It will enrich the area, support a feeling of community and will definitely be an event for the whole family to enjoy.

Everyone knows that one of the best things about St.Patrick’s Day is food, glorious food. At this special, under the arches food extravaganza there will be plenty of delicious offerings to be had. All the producers involved are members of the Tipperary Food Producers Network, who operate very strict quality criteria, and therefore you are guaranteed top quality local products. Each of the participants has won various awards for their produce but the true test is always in the taste and there will be plenty of opportunity to sample on the day.

Those taking part are Inch House, renowned for their black pudding, The Scullery who do a particularly tasty pudding in their delicious range. , Crossogue Preservers. The Cookie Jar, Tasty Treats and. James Whelan Butchers will be showcasing their famous Steak burgers while Crowe’s Farm will bring their award winning artisan bacon and ham to the feast. Local baker Nuala Hickey will be showcasing her world famous brack while Una O Dwyer will be cooking her award winning range of sausages. Red Nose Wine will provide samples from some of Ireland’s modern day winemakers in France. The newest members to our network Audrea Hassett and Sarah Baker will also be showcasing there products.

Don’t miss this special event where you can source all your ingredients or buy food gifts for everyone you know. It is the perfect antidote to food shopping in the supermarket and a real treat for your taste buds. Under the Arches at the Main Guard Clonmel will be crammed with goodies and will be open from 12noon to 4.30pm on Wednesday 17th of March for one day only.

St.Patrick,s Day Food Extravaganza Under the Arches at the Main Guard has been organized by Tipperary Food Producers Network in association with the Clonmel Chamber of Commerce, Clonmel Urban Council and the St.Patrick,s Day Committee.

The churches are getting ready and the new clothes are being bought in households up and down the country. The boys and girls of Ireland are preparing for their first holy communion and their confirmation. Mammy and Daddy are weighing up the options of a bouncy castle and a house party or maybe they will fill up the local pub. The pub is definitely my memory. There are pictures of my grandfather and myself having a drink in Carey’s Lounge circa 1981 – I was on the Lilt in case you are wondering. Bars of chocolate from Ma Welch’s shop and a 50pence piece were the presents of choice, if you were lucky. I am not sure how that would go down now. The level of expectancy may have grown with the Celtic Tiger. We have all seen the shows highlighting the fake tan and the horse drawn carriages for the princess and the huge bouncy castles that literally squeeze into the back lawn. I still like Dairy Milk and now and again, I have been known to nostalgically sip on a Lilt. I think though, you will see a little bit of restraint crawling back into society and the humble ham sandwich might make a comeback.

Whatever about the castles, I know that the increase in the popularity for wine will not fall back into the history books. We have a taste for the good stuff now and a person’s palate has a memory and there is no turning back now. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it. With this in mind, my topic for this week is wines for a large family gathering where you don’t really want to break the bank. A communion, christening or confirmation would fall into this category. There are a few do’s and don’ts that I will attempt to cover and also suggest what wines might best suit this occasion. I am sure my colleague in the Tipperary Food Producers Network and in the Life section of the paper, Pat Whelan will have a plethora of food on offer for any of these auspicious occasions. Assuming the food in question is something along the lines of pork, chicken or beef, and with a curry, tomato or casserole style sauce, you can have some fun with the wine selection. God forbid we get some weather and attempt a barbeque. I am assuming fish is too hard to time successfully for a large group. Greater chefs than I will manage it in style, I have no doubt.

What you want to avoid for a mixed gathering of people, whose wine tastes you are not fully aware of, is being too adventurous. I personally do a serious background check on any potential friend or future family member and their wine tastes. I had to break off all communication with numerous friends and family over the years for careless comments made about certain wines and regions. But then I am very passionate when it comes to wine. One wine to potentially avoid is Chardonnay, and for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it can be a wine that people love or hate, and the cheaper versions of it are not quite as good as the cheaper versions of other varieties. If you are spoiling your guests with Chablis, Macon or Burgundy, then Chardonnay is an option, but if you want to keep it under €10 Euros a bottle, avoid the cheap stuff. Sauvignon Blanc is more neutral, but not always a great wine for a buffet style. It can be too dry for the general public. Another tip – never drink it the day after a wedding, as it will exploit your dodgy stomach at every opportunity. I would love to suggest my favourite white wine style, Riesling, but it is not for everyone. So, with a budget in mind and a large group to please, I would suggest Pinot Grigio, as it is easy drinking and is both dry and fruity at the same time. I will be doing a big promotion for the upcoming communions and confirmations with an easy drinking €8 euro bottle of Pinot Grigio one of the main attractions.

And then there were the Reds. I do not mean the mighty Reds of Old Trafford, or even the other mid table variety. I refer to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz or maybe even Malbec, but not Pinot Noir. Much like my beloved Riesling, this might also be a step too far. I did serve it at my wedding though, and got many compliments, but whether it can justify the price is a point of contention. I think you can be a little more adventurous with the Reds, and a blend is always a good option. Bordeaux Cabernet/Merlot can be too dry, but the spicy Shiraz/Grenache from the Languedoc offers a fruity vibrant red that should stand up nicely to most of the sauces. Unless you are having a barbeque, I think some of the bigger Australian Shiraz wines are too big. The softer Chilean Merlots are another option of course, but they might be more suited to sitting down to dinner, as opposed to the rough and tumble adventure that is balancing fighting children, trying to the sneak a peek at the match on TV, holding a plate and enjoying a wine. The joys of a family buffet dinner where seats are a luxury for the under forties and time passes so slowly. I will have a range of these reds as part of my promotion – coming soon to a local newspaper near you. Full details will also be online and deliveries nationwide. Now that the sales pitch is over, whatever occasion causes you to break bread with family and friends is a good one, and I hope yours passes without incident and that you enjoy a nice glass of wine to celebrate a very important part of a young person’s life. My grandfather passed away in 1986, but I still remember the Lilt in Mick Careys Lounge and being allowed to sit on a big stool beside my Grandad.

Don’t forget to log onto the blog at www.rednosewine.com/blog or follow the ranting on Twitter – www.twitter.com/rednosewine

For anyone who would like more information and can’t make it into the shop, please feel free to contact me at info@rednosewine.com

“Life is much too short to drink bad wine”

The wonderful Bosquet des Papes in Chateauneuf du Papes were just awarded the 5 star award from the very influential Decanter wine magazine. It was for their 2007 Chante Le Merle.

This was a vintage that has been hailed since it was harvested, but Decanter’s group of experts including Margaret Rand and Steven Spurrier, were not overly impressed and felt only a few stars really shone, relative to what was expected. Among them was Bosquet des Papes. Customers have been enjoying the 2000 and the 2005 Chante Le Merle for a while now. I still have the 2007 in bond, and haven’t even had it in the shop as I think it is too soon to drink it. Since the award this week, I have already had an order for case from a customer, so my advice to all its fans, get it when it is going – i don’t have huge stocks. My daughter was born on 2007, and her name is on one of the cases in bond.

I am delighted for Nicolas Boiron as he is a gentleman and i first met him and his wines about 8 years ago when i lived in Paris. I was introduced to him by a Danish friend that I played on the same football team with. The multicultural Paris Gaels. We were just knocked out of the French Cup ( very preliminary stages ), and we went to the big wine fair in Porte de Versailles to drown our sorrows. I ended up buying about 6 cases of different vintages ( as well as countless other Burgundy’s and Bordeaux wines ). A very expensive match. Anyway, I had a great day last summer with Nicholas in his domaine and his cellar has wines going back through the many generations that his family has owned the land.

His other wines, including the very affordable Tradition blends and the magical La Folie also fared very well with 3 stars. One of my best selling wines is his 2007 Cotes du Rhone which leans much more towards a CDP than a CDR. I now need to get more of these wines back in before he sells out. To the batphone !!!!

Hello Wine Lovers

A bright start to the day so lets hope it carries through to the weekend and holds for the rugby.
A really different wine is new to the shop – I only got a couple of cases, but so far the wine is proving popular. For does of you who like Barolo or Barbera d’Alba but don’t want to wait for it to mature ( or pay the prices ), may I suggest Dolcetto d’Alba. It literally means “the little sweet one” and has black cherry and licorice undertones as a general rule. We have a biodynamic version called Le Ghiaie and we are selling it for €19.50, which is great value when compared to the Nebbiolo varieties.

The German Pinot Gris is also back in the shop after a little break. I know a lot of you were looking for it.

For a limited time only, we are giving away a choice of the following when you spend €75 or more in the shop ( or online ).

- A pack of handcrafted coffee from Ponaire Coffee – artisan coffee and part of the Tipperary Food Producers Network

- Handmade chocolate truffles from the wonderful Lorge Chocolatier ( a French cooking genius who lives in Kerry )

- Handmade chocolate bars from the wonderful Lorge Chocolatier ( a French cooking genius who lives in Kerry )

A very talented artist ( Barry Keegan ) put together a profile picture for the twitter,facebook, website profile. It can be seen here
It is a very typical scene on my trips … if only !!!!

We are opening up wines again as the weather is a little better, so please call in for a taste.

Lots of wines on offer still.

Regards,

Gary

On my first night in Montpellier, i went to a restaraunt that was highly recomended. It is called Les Bains de Montpellier and is situated behind the opera in the famous Place de la Comedie.

A great bite to eat in Montpellier

The city baths were founded in the 12th/13th century and were popular up until the second world war. It was so good on our first visit that i broke my rule of eating in the same place 2 night running, and we went back. After having fish the first night, and after a days tasting at Milliseme Bio (on an empty stomach), the 2nd meal had to be a fillet steak, nice and bloody. And it was cooked to perfection. I can still taste it. The wines consumed on both nights were a delicious Terroir Pic Saint-Loup on night one and a Cotes de Rousillon called Petit Taureau on the 2nd night. Lots of spice in both, but 1st one had a lot more minerality. Very different. After dinner, a walk in the sqaure and a late night piano bar was in full flow.

She didn’t know how to play Slievenamon but she could hardly play whatever she was playing, so we left her for the comfort of a nice wine bar i know.