Le Voyage d'Ulysse 2006

 This gorgeous Cotes du Rhone Villages  would be a lovely accompaniment to Roast Lamb this Sunday. It's a blend of Syrah, Carrignan and Mouvedre. It is a gorgeous ruby red in the glass with aromas cherries and vanilla from the oak ageing. Cherries follow through to the palate with some raspberry flavours also present. The finish is typically Rhone; spicy with fine tannins. 

The name of the wine means “The Journey of Ulisses”. Frederic David, the winemaker, named the wine after his 7 year old son, Ulisses and runs the vineyard with his father who bought it on his retirement in 1991 and moved the whole family down from Paris. I actually met Frederic when he was over in Dublin before Christmas and he spoke so passionately about not only his wines but the land itself that it would be difficult not to get enthused about them. He is very conscious about pesticides and trying to minimise the amounts used in the winemaking process as much for the wine he makes as for the land he is farming. He was telling me the property itself has a beautiful 16^th century chapel on it which he is renovating at the moment in the hope that they can eventually accommodate weddings on the vineyard. Can you imagine getting married amongst the vines and olive trees….?!

His best pal actually owns an Irish bar in nearby Nimes which he goes every Thursday for live trad sessions and to watch the rugby even admitting to donning our green jersey for some matches so there seems to be a bit of Irish in him!

 He is a rather small producer, making only 5 wines..3 reds - one of them actually being a Kosher wine, a sauvignon blanc and a gorgeous rose. This is his top wine and on special in Cellars for the month of September at €11.99

Till next time

Clare

Cellars, the Big Wine Warehouse, Naas Road