Setanta - Cuchulainn Shiraz 2007

 As the name suggests, this family run business has Irish blood running through it's veins. First generation Australians, Sheilagh and Bernard had grown up listening to folklore from their Irish born parents and when Sheilagh married Kiwi, Tony, also of Irish descent, there was no getting away from their heritage. Despite the fact that between the three of them, they had absolutely no wine knowledge apart from appreciation they realised their dream of making wine and with James Halliday rating their winery in the top ten and regularily receiving 5 stars they were obviously born to it.
 Tony and Sheilagh look after the marketing of the company and when it came to naming it , they wanted to keep hold of their Irish connections, Setanta was the obvious choice. Each varietal in the range is named after a mythical character from these yarns. The shiraz I tasted last night is called Cuchulainn but we also stock an Emer Chardonnay and Black Sanglain Cabernet Sauvignon. Love them or hate them their labels are very distinctive, with each label depicting one of the adventures of Setanta.
 Bernard acts as viticulturist and also winemaker which after going back to do a post grad in viticulture and spending time in  cooler climate winemaking countries, he seems to have mastered the technique of winemaking in Adelaide Hills.
It had been a few years since I had tried these wines so decided last night was as good a night as any to be good to myself! Not as dark in the glass as you would expect from an Aussie Shiraz actually more ruby red. Christmas cake fruits were the first thing that jumped out at me from this very aromatic nose with some plums and black licquorice. On the palate, the black licquorice is still there with some complex fruity undertones of plums and prunes. Really good length. This vintage was rated 93 Points with Halliday.

Selling for €21.99 in our Blanchardstown store now.

Till Next Time

Clare
Cellars, the Big WIne Warehouse

  

Shoo Fly Chook Raffle Chardonnay 2008

 For all of you winedrinkers out there like myself who are just a little bit tired of all the unoaked Chardonnay on the market , this might be the perfect stepping stone back into the world of subtle spicy and nutty whites. This McLaren Vale white is made from predominantly Chardonnay grapes with "a dash" of Riesling and Verdelho with 10% of it matured in french barrells. The result is a wine which still has those tropical fruit aromas noticeably peaches with sweet satsuma also present but in the mouth the oak is evident adding complexity. It is a creamy buttery texture with some citrusy lemon flavours but some  spice on the finish. LOVE IT! I think this would be perfect with any grilled white fish in a buttery sauce or maybe a lemon chicken.

 The winemaker, Ben Riggs worked for over 20 years at various vineyards in both Australia and around Europe before putting his name to his own wines. There are 4 wines in the Shoofly collection with this and a Shiraz available in Ireland which is also seriously worth a try. The name itself comes from what the Australian's refer to as the "Aussie Salute" , Shoo Fly.  Chook Raffle refers to the Australian tradition in local pubs some what like our Sunday Draw here but instead of money you can win anything from a frozen bird to whatever else is put up by the locals each week!
Great buy for €13.99

Till Next Time
Clare
Cellars, Naas Road

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John Duval,Entity 2006 Barossa Shiraz

John Duval is a legendary name, as only the third winemaker entrusted with managing the production of Australia's most famous and iconic wine Grange.

John has worked for Penfolds for 28 years (including 16 years as chief winemaker until his departure in 2002).

He set up on his own in 2003, sourcing fruit from some long time friends in the Barossa.

John was in Dublin last week and paid us in visit in our shop to show his 06 and 07 vintages of Entity and Plexus,(which is a Rhone blend)

His Entity 2006 stole the show for me hands down.The wine is aged in barrel for about 18 months. It is a wine with great complexity. On the palate it is powerful, rich, intensely flavoured with blackberrys, blueberries and a touch of spice. Its rich with tremendous flavour and balance, wonderful length

Powerful yet elegant is the only way i can describe it

Entity 06 won the international wine challenge Barossa red wine trophy in 08.

A classic Barossa that is well worth seeking our at 30 Euros a pop, its a real bargain considering the asking price for the current vintage of Grange is 250 Euro.

Cheers, Julie
JUS DE VINE, PORTMARNOCK

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Innocent Bystander ,Pink Moscato 2009, Victoria ,South Australia

They say all great things come in small packages, this 375ml bottle of fizz with its bottle cap (crown closure) to me is one for sure. 

It's a happy, fun, fruity little number that is only 5.5% alcohol, and very easy to drink. It's something that can be sipped on while enjoying the sun, out in the garden, or a great way to kick start your Sunday brunch.

The company was founded in 2004 by Philip Sexton who made his money in the beer business before venturing into the wine business. (you can get the pink moscato on draft at their cellar door) Moscato is a grape originating from Northern Italy's Piedmont and something the Australians have started to make  a good  job  of copying. 

The nose is Watermelons, Rose petals, Peaches, also a touch of turkish delight. If there is such a thing as summer time in a glass, to me this is it! It just tastes like more. The palate is very refreshing with a lovely spritz of sherbet like fizz .I would recommend this with any fruit based desserts, or as the Aussies like to drink it with a straw!

One to seek out over the Summer months.
Retails @ €5.99. 

Cheers,

Julie

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Gemtree, Tadpole Shiraz '06

Susie and Bren got engaged about 6 years ago. We all waited patiently for a good aul’ Deveney knees up.

They eloped to New York 6 months ago and tied the knot in City Hall. We all needed a new word for disappointed.

Clare and I had not only let the occasion go unmarked with a gift but also had promised a celebratory meal that we had not delivered on. It had become so embarrassing that whenever we met up with them we were avoiding the topic of food in any context.

Last weekend – half a year later, we had a full on spread and in my opinion it was worth the wait.

We drank some really good stuff. It’s best that I don’t disclose every bottle in view of the label we may acquire. Here’s a few worth trying if you’re passing Dundrum and looking for wine for entertaining.

The Gemtree, Tadploe Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2006. This is one of those Australian reds that I keep reverting back to. It retails at €12.90 but warrants a price tag far higher than that. This is a really elegant style of New World Shiraz. The McLaren Vale produces some of my favourite Australian wines and they always have their own unique style due to the micro-climate of this area. The nose is blackcurrant, some ripe cherry, liquorice with a slight greenness – damp grass maybe. The palate doesn’t disappoint, ripe berry, black pepper, dark chocolate and finishes with some elegant tannins. This is not your average Aussie Shiraz. It’s quite dry in comparison to other commercial brands most people would be familiar with and is a really good example of a well made Shiraz. I would consider this a Friday night Favourite in 66.

During the steak dinner we got stuck in to some Rhone Reds. I always like a Rhone with a rare to medium steak, Bordeaux is advised but not by me. I’m 100% a Rhone and steak girl.

We had a bottle of Domaine de la Janasse, Cotes du Rhone 2007 €16.90. I spent a week down in this part of the valley a couple of years ago and it was the best wine trip I have ever been on. Apart from the wine being, in my opinion, second to none, the people are so unpretentious and genuinely passionate about their wines. Lots of Wellington boot wearing and rarely a Chateau in sight. This has a really earthy typical Rhone nose. Blackcurrant dark berry fruit with a slight smokiness. The kinda wine that makes your mouth water. The palate is silky smooth ripe berry fruit, creamy mouth feel with vanilla and some earthiness on the finish.

We also had some Chapoutier and a Guigal and that’s all I’m disclosing.

A relatively early night due to the formation of an abscess and a morning airport pick-up.

O&O

Ruth

Peter Lehmann 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon,Barossa , My Word is My Bond

I have chosen this wonderful wine from South Australia as one of my favourite BBQ wines.

It is really full bodied, with lovely jammy fruit and a dry edge that works great with any red meats and rich flavoured foods. 


Margaret,Doug and Peter Lehmann

I was lucky enough to have meet Peter and his lovely wife Margaret on my visit to Australia. He is known as the Baron of the Barossa, but to me he was more like the Godfather of the Barossa!. He has the same kinda presence as Marlon Brando, very tall strong charismatic gentleman, his eldest son Doug is now running the show but Peter is still entertaining visitors when they call. I know even when he visited Ireland he was the last to leave the Trocadero after meeting up with all are famous stars and he entertained them for the night!. There hospitality and cellar door is almost world famous!

My Word is My Bond  is how he started in business in the late 1980's. He promised to protect  quality independent growers wherever possible, there were no contracts drawn up just a hand shake and his word. When there was a surplus of grapes and the company he was working for refused to buy the grapes off the long established grape suppliers,  
                                                                                 Peter on the right with the lads at the Weigh Bridge Station  striking the deal.

Peter would not break his word, begged and borrowed and agreeing to pay his suppliers as soon as he sold on the wine. That’s the gamble he took and it worked for him. He founded his own company and never looked back...

Peter was awarded a lifetime achievement award for his wonderful contribution to the wine industry over the past 62 years in 2009 from the International wine challenge.

Colour. Rich dense red with a purple hue

Nose. Dark berries, black-currents, hint of violets, dark chocolate, vanilla essence

Palate. Silky rounded soft fruit, touch of spice with soft tannins.

Cheers,

Julie



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WILLUNGA 100 SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER MCLAREN VALE 2006

You will see quite a lot of this blend popping up on shelves and menus around the country .  Far from it being a new blend, the French have been using this blend in Côte Rôtie which is considered one of the oldest vineyards in France, however it is a relatively new and definitely trendy blend in the New World. To be precise it is not an actual blend as the grapes are actually co-fermented together rather than the juice being blended together.

The Viognier(5%) being a white wine grape variety is intended to add fragrance to the Shiraz(95%)and complexity. It is also meant to add vibrancy to the colour which we can definitely see with the Willunga which is nearly purple in appearance. It has a deceptively sweetspiciness on the nose with some christmas pudding fruits also evident. In the mouth it is quite dry with liquorice and dark fruits.

I personally think of this as a food wine and needs full-flavoured foods such as stroganoffs or cured meats although we did have it recently at a family birthday with a lasagne which was pretty delicious. Also remember it is McLaren Vale so if you are expecting a big sweet Barossa shiraz you might be disappointed as it is drier and definitely more serious than most Aussie's Shiraz

Till next time
Clare

Knappstein H.Picked Riesling 06

Our Chinese take-away in Dundrum was sacrificed about 7 years ago for the Town Centre. Although I am not at liberty to disclose names, rumour has it that there was a missing cat epidemic for the 12 months prior to the closure of the establishment. Despite being without, there is never a shortage of requests for a wine to go with ‘’sweet chilli beef’’ / ‘’duck and orange sauce’’.

It’s important to take the sugary base of the sauce into consideration when choosing the right bottle to go with dish no:122. This is the ideal match.

Knappstein Hand Picked Riesling 2006 is a Clare Valley wine. The Clare Valley lies approximately 120km North of Adelaide. This region is the Australian home to the traditionally German grape variety. These guys make delicious affordable wines and this was my choice of white for week 2 of our radio slot on Aussie wines.

This pours a nectar straw colour with flecks of orange. It has a waxy, oily texture in the glass.

The nose has very traditional Riesling aromas – petroleum with loads of tropical fruit- Pineapple, ripe green apple, honey and lychee.

The palate is equally as complex and so delicious. Flavours of honey and sweet tropical fruit with pineapple and delicious citrus finish. The acidity level cuts through the sweetness making it balanced and easy to consume!.

This goes great with fruit desserts or as an aperitif. An ideal combination with spicy and sweet foods. Thai green curry, sweet and sour chicken or a Deveney favourite – Lemon meringue pie.

Love it

O&O

Ruth

G`DAY MATE…DON’T BE A DRONGO THINK AUSSIE!

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For our wine slot on Wednesday 24th March on Country FM. we thought we would taste a few Australian wines.  Australia is the success story of the modern wine era, coming from nowhere to become a major player on the world stage by producing a wealth of original wine styles.

In a nutshell Australian wines are about intense fruitiness, abundance of flavour and softness of texture. Aussie wines are very popular here in Ireland with one in four wines consumed being Australian and with over 200 wineries present in the Irish market.  Even more importantly our Julie has just returned from an exhausting(! ) four week fact finding mission down under so she is very up to date on the latest trends.

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Cullen, Sauvignon/ Semillon...Aussie Wonder

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Cullen, Sauvignon/ Semillon...Aussie Wonder

Founded in 1965 by Di and Kevin Cullen, one of the pioneers of the Margaret River. There vineyards are bio-dynamic certified and one of the first to be carbon neutral (which requires the calculation of all the carbon used and carbon dioxide emitted in the winery,and the carbon is then offset by the planting of new trees, The winemaking is now managed by their infamous daughter Vanya Cullen.

Once known as surfing nirvana and for its picturesque settings, Margaret River is now a heaven for wine makers. This is an area I have been thinking about visiting for some time...

At last, here I am  in Cullen's vineyard in Margaret River Western Australia, hoping that maybe there is some family connection. We share the same surname!

Cellar doors are open to the public daily. The Vineyards  of Australia do wine tourism very well and have amazing in house restaurants  showcasing their wines. It's a very laid back place and relatively inexpensive. We had been traveling for 3 weeks now all over Australia and everyone we meet really does have the no worries attitude. The winemakers are farmers enjoying their craft.  They seem to keep things simple and it really works. After visiting a number of Australian vineyards It is clear to see that these guys treat wine tourism as a priority.

1 in 4 wines bought in Ireland last year come from Australia. This is a growing market in the Irish industry and one I would highly recommend people to visit when in Western Australia. 

Colour; Pale straw with a touch of green.

On the nose it is fresh with hits of citrus fruit.

Palate, Lovely mineral character,with a zippy tangy finish. 

Food: Oyster,Scallops, Fish.

Cheers!

Julie

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