Antares Sauvignon Blanc 2009

This really is a lovely glass of Sauvignon Blanc that can be opened day or night without a a qualm of conscience as to the price because it is really great value for money.
These grapes from Central Valley are able to ripen fully thanks to the excellent exposure to the sun, dry summers and a lack of rain at the time of harvest. All these factors ensure optimum fruit expression..

The 2009 Antares Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh young wine. It offers aromas of melon and pineapple with refreshing citrus notes of lime and grapefruit. The palate is soft and fruity with medium body and well balanced acidity.
This really is a vibrant zesty style of Sauvignon with lovely concentration .
Everytime I drink a glass of this my brain shouts… This wine is far too good to cost only €7.99 !

Antares Sauvignon Blanc recently received a well deserved NOFFLA Gold Star Award in Ireland.


Enjoy!Evelyn
THE VINTRY,RATHGAR

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GatoNegro Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Central Valley Chile

 
GatoNegro’s history dates back to the 1960’s when it was first released in Chile and as such it is one of the country’s oldest and best known wines. 



 Surrounded by the Andes Mountains, the warm, sunny vineyards benefit from both coastal sea breezes as well as the cold air which sweeps down from the Andes ensuring that the grapes ripen slowly, developing maximum flavour potential.  The winemaker at GatoNegro is Carlos Chandía who worked several vintages in France before returning home to his native Chile in 2001

Displaying rich jammy summer berry fruits with nice smooth silky tannins.  A soft easy-drinking style with a creamy caramel edge.

“A well rounded wine that is a real quaffer and great value for money.”  €7.99

GatoNegro recently received a well deserved NOFFLA Gold Star Award in Ireland for 2009.

Adios,

Evelyn

THE VINTRY ,RATHGAR

 CONSUME AND ENJOY IN MODERATION

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Zarapito, Budget wines.

It's great to have a few options when choosing some under €8 wines. So, in view of current budgetary requirements, it's an area that we need to concentrate on to offer our customers the best in this category.

Zarapito comes in both white and red blends.

The Red is a Malbec - Bonarda blend. These are typically Argentinian grape varieties. Bonarda, I find to be too fruit filled with little structure as a varietal but teamed with Malbec which is quite a dark liquorice and black chocolate grape these really work well as a duo. Even better as a mid-week t.v wine retailing at €6.99.

The White is again typically Argentinian. The blend is Torrontes - Chenin blanc. Fresh and zesty with lots of balanced citrus and tropical fruit flavours. 

Same price as 2 cappuccinos from your local petrol station only far more palatable.

O&O

Ruth. 


CELLARS,NAAS ROAD:DEVENEYS DUNDRUM:JUS DE VINE PORTMARNOCK:THE VINTRY RATHGAR

Canti red, Budget wines

We chose this as the red to review on our Country Mix slot this morning. The theme was Wines under €8 and at the moment this is a price range that everyone is interested in including ourselves.
Canti, Negroamaro- Zinfandel blend is a little red from Puglia- heel of Italy. This wine picked up the NoffLA Gold Star Award in 2009 for 'Best old World red under €8'. This is definitely worth 8 cheeseburgers from the Euro-saver.
Negroamaro is a grape variety that not a lot of people have heard of but most have tasted. It makes up the grape majority in Salice Salentino which hails from the same area of Italy. Zinfandel is generally referred to as Primitivo on Italian wine labels, these guys are the same grape.
Canti also makes a sister white to this which is pictured to your left and these two team up as the perfect inexpensive pair for Communions, Confirmations or large gatherings of the gluggers.
This pours a deep raspberry colour. The nose is sweetened summer fruits- Raspberry, strawberry and Rhubarb. On the palate the fruit is ripe but has this nice dry finish which balances the intensity of the berries.
Drink me with meat or vegetarian kebabs, stuffed peppers or tomatoes or buy some Hot Wing sauce and make your own Elephant and Castle signature wings. Big favourite of ours.
O&O
Ruth

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Terrai Blanco 2009

 Had this white a couple of weeks ago up in T&T's and couldn't believe it when I was told it had a price tag of €6.99. I am not a huge fan of Macabeo or Viura as it is called in Rioja and more and more winemakers seem to be blending it these days with a small bit of sauvignon blanc but this 100% Macabeo really is a little gem. Dad cooked prawns in a coconut, lime and spicy sauce and it worked really well with it. It was fresh, crisp and zingy. Aromas of citrus fruits especially limes. On the palate it is light and refreshing with well balanced acidity.
  It is from Cariñena which is a D.O. in Aragón in Northern Spain and has a continental climate which apparently contributes to the characteristics of wines from this region. This D.O. is one of the oldest in Europe, established in 1932. It is mostly a red wine region and the Terrai does come in a red which is 100% Tempranillo and also a medium dry rosé all selling for €6.99. We sold out of the white and red within a week when 2 couples chose it for their weddings and now that the sunny weather is upon us we have ordered their pink. Perfect mid-week dinner wine or for relaxing with after a day's work in the evening sun.

Till Next Time
Clare

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My Budget Pick - Las Moras Viognier

This winery has been voted argentinian wine producer of the year twice, they together with their sister company Bodegas Trapiche are the world's fifth largest and Latin America's largest producer of wine. The winery is situated in San Juan in Argentina and has a semi-desert climate with over 300 days of sunshine a year allowing minimum pesticides to be used in cultivating the grapes.
Viognier is believed to have been brought to France by the Romans where it is the single grape variety permitted in Condrieu, the famous rhone white. It is a difficult grape to grow and some even believe the name of the grape is called after the Roman word translating to "road to hell" . Viognier is prone to powdery mildew and thrives in the heat so San Juan is an ideal climate as it prefers warm climates. Typically viognier is meant to be drunk young as it does lose it's perfume as it ages.

 Las Moras means Mulberry tree and is so called as the property is covered in them. It is a great little crowd pleaser so a perfect party wine.  Very aromatic nose which is typical of this variety. Accai flowers and ripe apricots on the nose. In the mouth it is full bodied with some spice and slight honey tones so it works really well with spicy foods; Thai cusine or even a chicken curry. This really offers great value for money and let's be honest that's what it is all about at the moment. The Viognier is just one from their single varietal range but they also have a chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, malbec, shiraz and the latest addition a pinot grigio. I got to try the range when Pablo Ghiorzi (export manager) was in town last Thursday and at the new special offer price of  €6.99 you would be hard pressed to get more for your money

Till Next Time

Clare

CONSUME AND ENJOY IN MODERATION.

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