Aperol Spritz....Ultra Cool Italian

Am just back from a  break in Italy where I was introduced to a very fashionable drink ,the perfect spritz prepared in a wine glass.

All you need is....
2oz Prosecco
1.5oz Aperol, ( substitute Campari)
Soda
Ice
Add ice to large wine glass, then Prosecco, a dash of soda and finally top up with the Aperol last ,as this will avoid it settling on the bottom of the glass. Garnish with a  slice of orange.

 The origin of this delicious drink is not known exactly but it is widely believed that it was born during the Austrian occupation of Italy.
It is fresh, sparkling and light and the ideal early evening drink or to use as a aperitif, and is considered ultra cool in Italy at the minute.
Aperol is not being imported into Ireland just yet, but after doing some research, I have discovered  that it is made by the Campari company and tastes much like it except it has a slightly higher sugar content and therefore less alcohol.


Try it out on our next sunny day, it's the new way to drink Prosecco!

Enjoy.
Julie

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Oriel, 2000 ,Barolo...A steal for the money!

Oriel describes itself as a new kind of wine company and their strategy is that by cutting out the middleman and never owning vineyards, they can offer you a €25 wine for €15 and a €45 wine for €25 etc.
They maintain that the reason this is possible is because, some wine prices are driven by some unnecessary overhead and marketing costs rather than the cost of grapes and wine making.Their wines apparently are made by some of the most celebrated winemakers who have made some of the greatest wines ,from Petrus to Penfolds Grange.
Interesting Concept!

Their Barolo is made in small quantities in a area Northwest of Italy in the Piedmont region, getting its name from the Village of  Barolo.The wine is made form 100% Nebbiolo. In its youth this wine style can be hard and tannic and can often need at least a decade to become approachable.
When I tasted the complex 2000 vintage it t had been opened for 20 hours and  I was overcome by its richness and power .It was dark rich cherry red in the glass with lots of rich Christmas cake aromas, mocca and spice with firm yet elegant tannins.

This wine would work really well with a good steak, just be sure to decant it and it will show you  what a well made Barolo that is drinking well  is all about.A true expression of one of the great wines regions of  the world. Seek it out ... for €35  its a steal.

Enjoy,

Julie

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Farnese Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Colline Teremane 2005

  A double whammy of disappointment this week as not only did I have to miss wine club on Monday but it was also Italian night but thanks to Bren who kindly dropped myself and Ruth over the remains of all 15 reds tasted on the night all was not lost.

 Difficult to choose a favourite to be honest but really loved this top class Montepulciano. From the Abruzzo region, on the leg of Italy, this is Farnese's star wine and is only made in good years from carefully selected Montepulciano grapes. Aged for a total of 16 months in oak, 10 in barriques and a further 4 in barrell and from the best Montepulciano growing region in Abruzzo which in 2003 gaind the prestigious DOCG  appellation.

Did not get around to trying it till the Wednesday so at that stage had been opened 2 nights but still had a delicious fruit filled nose of dark plums with a touch of sweet dried fruits yet an earthiness underneath. Really smooth with a delicious velvety mouth, dry, well structured red with a complex spicy finish. Stood up really well with the coq au vin I'd made with the remains of the tasting bottles from the night before which I didn't expect as Montepulciano can often result in a lighter style of Italian red which would be swallowed up by this flavoursome dish.  Dinner guest, Liam, even went in for seconds despite it being a school night and even the lumpy mash seemed to be forgiven.

Sells for about €16.99 and due into us next week.
Till Next Time
Clare

Super Tuscans

Our shop is close to Dublin Airport therefore we are lucky to get to meet a lot of wine makers just as they arrive into Dublin or just before they catch the plane onto their next business meeting. Last week Noel Tynan popped in with the export director of Ornellaia for us to try their current vintage of 2007 along with the second wine Le Serre Nuove 2007. These wines are a true expression of good Tuscan land. They make limited quantities but of  maximum quality and the wines do everything right in my opinion, they just sang!

Ornellaia was first produced in 1985  and  is a blend of  predominately Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It has aromas of dark berry fruits, a touch of balsamic, silky elegant smooth tannins and great depth. I feel this wine will be showing at its best in another few years.
The second wine Le Serre Nuove was drinking now and at €50 is a text book example of what these wines are all about. The wine is a blend of Merlot along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. and has scents of mocha, dark berries and spice. It is  full bodied, with soft velvety tannins and immediately impressive. After trying these wines  one cannot doubt their passion for excellence and understand what  the word Super Tuscan is all about! 

Seek them out!

Enjoy,
Julie.

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Livio Felluga Lets Us Taste His Wonderful Italian Whites

Andrea Felluga

After meeting up with wine maker Andrea Felluga in Friuli and tasting three of his wonderful white wines in his house over a fantastic dinner our last night in Italy was a real WOW night!.
The Pinot Grigio 2008 which is on the gold list for the Sommelier Wine Awards for its food friendliness and character was drinking really well with lots of floral notes and great intensity  of flavour. This to me is what great Pinot Grigio is all all about, well worth the money at €25.99 (a text book example).
The 2007 Ilivio, Pinot Bianco  is named after his father ,who started making wine in the 1950's in the hills of Friuli, and is aged in understated oak with a little spice and nuttiness coming through on the palate at €33.99 it is a alternative to a good white Burgundy and won a gold medal in Decanter magazine this year.
Saving  the best of the best till last the 2008 Terre Alte ,which is regarded as one of the top white wines from Italy , was the star of the show and at €50.00 you get what you pay for. This wine is from a single vineyard and displays honeyed and floral notes, wonderful balance and great length.
I must admit I have a whole new understanding now of what amazing, intense,focused flavoured yet greatly scented whites this family are producing.

Seek them out!
All available at Jus De Vine

Enjoy,
Julie.

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Franz Haas Pinot Nero 2008

Pinot Nero on the Vine

In the foothill of the Alps you will find Franz Haas making one of the purest and well balanced Pinot Nero from the unique terroir of the Alto Adige.
The Pinot Nero 2008, is considered by  Franz as a white wine equivalent amongst  his reds as it is light and transparent in the glass, shows  strawberries blackberry and raspberries, plum and a touch of spice.It is  fresh and lively on the palate with a wonderful berry finish that lasts and lasts. This wine was served to us with roast duck and worked magnificently. The current vintage is served under stelvin and  is worth seeking out for those who enjoy a light elegant wine with great flavours.

The wine is available at Jus De Vine for 26.99 Euro

My Visit to Franz Haas

                                                                                                                                                            

High in the Dolomites in Montagna, about 3 hours by car from Verona and up to 800 meters above sea level you will find the wonderful Mr Franz Haas. The scenery is stunning  as the winery is surrounded  by lush green mountains which are not far away from the ski resorts. When I first met Mr Haas my first thoughts where that he resembled Groucho Marks in appearance. Charming and all as he was, this winery is serious business, his family have been making wine since 1880. When we visited ,although the vintage was in full swing, they pulled out all the stops for us and gave us a great feel for the vineyards and their philosophy on wine production.

Andrea his right had man is a guy who just loves what he does, from the moment we met him you just understood their passion and drive to make  the very best wines.  Andrea had worked with Cloudy Bay in New Zealand for a vintage and was exposed to the New World production experience.  At Franz Haas he has managed to produce the perfect combination.

Manna Cru 2008

This is a very individual wine made from all the cool climate grapes, a blend of four different grape varieties, Riesling, 20% barrel fermented Chardonny, Gewurtraiminer and Sauvignon. This versatile wine is a result of trying to create a wine tooptimize general food pairing by accentuating the different flavors instead of having to order a different wine for each dish. The wine is also dedicated to his wife Maria, who comes from a restaurant family herself.

The wine is a wonderful fusion of flavors, with great aromas of elder-flower and rose petals along with the weight on the palate of the Chardonnay and purity of the Riesling. It has a great finish and is a wine that will age well and evolve beautifully. For me this is a wine for Japanese food for sure.

Worth seeking out at 27 Euro, a little treat on a Friday!

Enjoy!

Julie


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Allegrini,Palazzo della Torre ,Veronese IGT,2007

 Another star in the Alligrini stable!

To quote Matt Skinner:" Alligrini are to wine what Ferrari are to cars"!
I would have to agree, having visited  their winery in Fumane, that they are amongst the elite of the worlds red wine producers.
Palazzo Della Torre is made up of 70% Corvina and 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
It is more full bodied wine than the Le Grola(see previous post) due to the use of  the Ripasso method on 30% of the blend. Deep ruby in colour, it has a nose of forest fruits and a hint of dried grape giving a most pleasing  raisin character. It is ripe and rich on the palate with similar character to an Amarone style which is hardly surprising .
It pairs well with a wide range of dishes and dare I say it but it works great with Turkey!
Another gem worth seeking out at 20 Euro.

Enjoy Julie

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Allegrini ,La Grola,2006,Valpolicella

Silvia Allegrini shows us around the vineyard

The Allegrini family have played an important role in Valpolicella since the 16th Century. Giovanini Allegrini was one of the earliest pioneers of quality Valpolicella. In the early eighties he purchased the La Grola hill for the sole purpose of producing  the finest of Valpolicella wine. The chalky and stony soil in La Grola  is at an elevation of 1,000 feet above sea level which is a great  help in developing the natural acidity and aromatics in the grapes.Today Giovanini Allegrini`s children are following  through on their fathers vision.

La Grola is made up of 80% Corvina and 20% Syrah.The wine is a deep ruby colour with a robust nose of Christmas cake fruits, with hints of spice and tobacco. It has an elegant and lingering finish  with a wonderful concentration  which is attributed to the high plant density and low yields as well as the elevation.

I would pair this wine with roasted meats or any rich sauce dishes.We were lucky enough to enjoy it in a lovely little restaurant in nearby Fumane called Casale Spighetti with the most wonderful pasta with pan fried  mushrooms, Delicious. Apparently this is the very restaurant that Ruth Rodgers and Rose Grey of  River Cafe fame learned their pasta making in!
Well worth a Friday night treat at 25 Euro!

Enjoy Julie

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Pieropan"Calvarino" Soave Classico 2008

Andrea serves up the Calvarino

Calvarino Soave Classico is perhaps the purest expression of Soave made by Pieropan. Made of a blend of 80% Garganega and 20% Trebbiano di Soave. It was a vineyard planted by Nino's great great Granfather. It has a lovely perfumed nose with almondy character enhanced by a great minerality character with a lovely crisp finish. The wine sees no oak and therefore expresses the great purity of these old vineyards.
Another great Soave worth seeking out at €22.99. Works really well with the more meaty  type of fish dishes.

Enjoy Julie

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Ca' Dei Frati Lugana 'Brolettino' 2008

Tasting at Ca' Dei Frati

Ca' Dei Frati are known to produce an outstanding Lugana, fresh and zesty with lovely weight on the palate. They also make a Lugana that sees french oak for 10 months called Brolettino which was the star of the show for me at the tasting at their winery. The oak is really well integrated in the wine and does not mask the fruit. The nose is quite biscuity and there is lovely viscosity on the palate with a long lingering finish.

Enjoy Julie
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CATALDO, NERO D`AVOLA 2009,SICILY

Mazzaro, Taormina,Sicily

 I am a huge fan of  Nero D`Avola for everyday drinking.I only have to handle a bottle of it to conjure up fond memories of an idyllic holiday spent at Mazzaro in Taormina,Sicily.

This particular wine is produced by Cataldo  It is a fantastic Nero D'avola, and great value. A core of red and purple fruits with floral and mineral notes. Long, slightly dry finish with nice fruits.

Quite a few lunches,of wood fired pizza topped with vibrant rocket ,cured ham, parmesan cheese and a few glasses of Cataldo,were consumed in the little beach restaurant here!

Arrevaderchi ! 

Evelyn 
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Alpha Zeta "G" Garganega

Matt Thomson

Alpha Zeta wines have been made by Matt Thomson since 1999. You can see,all around you ,that a lot of investment has gone into this operation and the focus is on  producing  modern easy drinking wines. Matt is a kiwi who spends his time making wine between Italy, France and New Zealand. He is a very busy man but when he took time out to join us for lunch ,he spoke  passionately about stelvin closure verses cork closure. He works with two co-operatives whose vineyards cover 1,900 hectares in the hills of  Verona. All their wines are now under stelvin except for the Amarone and Ripasso, due to legal stipulations.

G is for Garganega.

All the wines are in ultra modern packaging with the initial of the wine standing out... G is for Garganega.

The wine sees a tiny amount of oak, a light easy drinking summer wine that shows a lovely fresh peach character and  it worked really well with risotto,a real quaffer.
An Italian wine that delivers for €8.99 . Old world wine with a new world wine maker.. says it all.!




Enjoy,

Julie
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My Visit to Verona, Italy :Pieropan Soave 2009,

I'm just back from a few days away in Italy. It was all business promise!
Liberty wines brought a group of us over to the Verona region to meet up with some of their wonderful producers. Pieropan, Allegrini, Franz Haas, Livio Felluga, Ca dei Frati, and Cantine di Valpanatena amongst others.
I have decided to feature a wine or two a week to give you a little taster of the region and some of the best wines it has to offer.

David Gleve & The Pieropan Sons in the vineyard.

Pieropan Soave 2009

There is lots of Soave on the market and then there is Pieropan Soave! The estate was founded in 1890.
The Pieropan family have decided to drop the classico from their label so they can bottle their wine in a stelvin closure (screwcap).  Made from the gargenega grape the wine shows a wild herb honey nose with great weight on the palate.A real classic well worth seeking out at €16.99.
Nino Pieropan also makes 2 cru Soaves from single estates. La Rocca and Calvarino. Before World War 2 and prior to Soave being designated a wine in its own right they were described as Petite Chablis and after tasting them you can see why, as they have a,lot of similar characteristics of a good white Burgundy.

Enjoy Julie
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Something old, something new...

With the Celtic tiger having legged it off to wherever he wandered out from, everyone is keeping a tighter hold on their money and what they are getting for it. Gone are the days of the words"Feck it! It's our big day and it will only happen once!" and  couples seem to more involved than ever in the finer details of their weddings leaving an awful lot of unemployed Francks!

Me and the girls at Jennie & Kevin's

This has been my year for weddings - like the year of the 18ths,21st and 30ths so I have been in the company of many brides-to-be and have heard them swopping money-saving ideas such as DIY invitations and amature flower arrangements. The best of all I heard this week was a bride who really wanted The Dublin Gospel Choir during the ceremony but instead asked her pals to pull out some of the oldies from school and even though they were a bit rusty, these are the things that I think make a wedding really special. Now granted a lot of my friends do enjoy their wine along with the fact that if I am invited to your wedding I have a strict "you better have bought that from me, my family or close friend" policy but putting that all that to the side they have managed to select a wine they love, save money and also return any bottles that they have not used - it's a no brainer.

In the last year hotel's have become more open to the idea of bringing in your own wines and corkage although still high is more manageable as a result myself and the other three W.O.W.s have become experts in what wine goes with beef and salmon!! Two great little wines that are flying out the door for weddings are from Boschendal which is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa and from Italy . They are both packaged beautifully(which is very important when sitting on a dressed table) but they also offer great value for money.

THE NEW(world) !

The red which is called The Pavillion is a Shiraz Viognier blend from the Boschendal range. Dark fruits on the nose especially plums and blackberries. The palate is very fruit forward but has a lingering spicy finish. Nicely balanced tannins means it works well with meat but the fruitiness of the wine allows it to be a real crowd-pleaser which is exactly what you want.

€7.99 per bottle

The white is a chenin blanc and viognier blend also from the same range. A golden colour with tropical fruits on the nose; melons and pears. This again is a real fruit explosion on the palate which makes for easy-drinking yet well-balanced acidity pairs it well to chicken dishes.

€7.99 per bottle

THE OLD(world)!

This Veneto red is full-bodied with luscious dark cherries and a smokiness on the nose. There is a lovely velvety mouth-feel to this with smooth tannins and a dry complex finish. It is a blend of Corvina(traditional Valpolicella grape) and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a more serious red than the Pavillion but still well priced.

€10 per bottle

The white in this is a pinot grigio and pinot nero blend. Pinot grigio is I think always a safe option for a wedding as it is a very inoffensive grape which sometimes works against it. With this blend thouigh there is more body than you would expect and a lovely creaminess to it. On the nose we have pears and white flowers and in the mouth a gorgeous freshness.

€10 per bottle

 The average corkage seems to be anything between €7 - €10 and with some persuasion it should be possible to bargain them down to the lower bracket. House wines in hotels generally tend to be about €20 so whether you are trying to save money or just get better value for your buck it is definitely something to consider. On The Pavillion range if you got the hotel down to even €8 corkage you could make a saving of nearly €5 per bottle when case dicounts are taken into consideration and when you put that across 100 bottles of wine you might even save your bridesmaids from the  papercuts and tears of DIYing invitations, sorry Celene!! Or if you are after quality you could end up paying the same for something you and your guests thoroughly enjoyed over some anaemic New World house wine.
 In Mary H's words "Shop around"...

Till next Time

Clare
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Masi Costasera Amarone Classico 2006

Pierre, the export manager for Masi took time out last week to take Clare and I through some of the great wines of Masi.

Masi has been one of the historic interpreters of Amarone since 1772 when the Boscaini family (now the 6th generation) bought land in the heart of Valpolicella classico(near Lake Garda) and gained access to the most prestigious vineyards and best location for the appasimento.

Appasimento(drying of the grapes) is the traditional method used in the Veneto region to give the wines great aromas , concentration and flavour. The grapes, Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara are laid out to rest for a long time on bamboo racks to dry out before vinification.This can take up to 3/4 months When the semi dried grapes are ready, they produce a wonderful rich unique wine we all know as Amarone.

Masi Costasera Amarone Classico 2006
This deep dark ruby red wine wine has aromas of baked fruits, plums, cherries, with a touch of mocha. Soft tannins, good alcohol levels and a long velvety finish. Its a wine to be shared with good friends after dinner with some mature cheese or will stand up to any roasts.
This is one of the classic wines from the Masi range,and once you try it will understand why they are the leading premium Amarone producer accounting for 20% of the total production in the Veneto region. They have also ventured into making wines in Argentina which i will talk you through next week!
We managed to grab a few minutes with Pierre which you can see and he was able to explain the Amarone and Ripasso production method, as Masi was the first to make a Ripasso, no better man to ask! See our VBLOG in Clares post titled Masi Poderi del Bello Ovile 2007

Cheers, Julie
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Masi Poderi del Bello Ovile 2007

Serego alighieri is a collaboration between Masi and the Alighieri family who have worked together for the last 30 years. Masi brought with them not only their expertise in wine making but also in international distribution. The Alighieri family are direct descendants of the Divine Comedy's,Dante whose son bought the estate in 1353. They recently acquired vineyards south of Montalcino which mark the Alighieri's return to Tuscany after the exile of the poet. Together with Masi they have selected the best blend for this first release, Poderi del Ovile so named after the actual vineyards and in honour of an episode in the divine Comedy where Dante dreams of returning to the land where he was born.

The wine is 80% sangiovese and the balance made up of a blend of Canaiolo, Colorino and Shiraz. The aim was to add a super tuscan to their already prestigious veneto range. It is aged for 12 months in relatively small barrells in Italian terms, 600litres!


It is a beautiful ruby red colour with a nose of dark cherries and spice. Full-bodied , complex and elegant with some licquorice and dark fruits evident. Pretty pricey at €22.99 but a more affordable Super Tuscan than most and absolutely delicious. It was one of the many stunning wines we tried at a Masi trade tasting lunch in Pichet Restaurant last Wednesday. Myself and Jules had the privilege of sampling some of their rare and fine vintages including Amarone "Costasera" '97 and '88 as well as their single vineyard Mazzano Amarone '03(we sell the '01 for €75). We managed to grab a few minutes with Pierre which you can see below and he was able to explain the Amarone and Ripasso production method, as Masi was the first to make a Ripasso, no better man to ask!

Till Next Time



Clare
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Italo Pietrantoni video blog.

Our very first attempt at video blogging. Myself and Evelyn with a bottle of Italo Pietrantoni Montepulciano D'abruzzo. Spitting was obligatory as work prevailed!!

Nice way to start a Wednesday though,

Hope you enjoy,

Ruth and Evelyn.

The collaboration of an Italian feast - Rathgar style!

Lavignone Barbera d'Asti 2009

Tasted this with Ruthie for the first time about a year ago when she got it as a sample from one of our suppliers. The next day we both ordered it in and it has been one of our best sellers ever since. The Italian section in Cellars is growing by the week partly down to my love of Italian wines but also an increase in interest from our customers. Whether it is down to Irish tastes changing or more people holidaying there, the market share  in specialist wine shops has shifted and Italian wines are up by 50% on the first three months of this year in comparison to last year with New World wines taking that hit , hats off to the Italians...!

... and maybe a few other items if the picture (to follow) of these two brothers is anything to go by!!

 Pico and Vitaliano Maccario inherited this land in Piedmont from their grandfather. The former concentrates on the winemaking whereas Vitaliano is on the commercial side of the business; both as equally keen on getting the best from their land and in this case the Barbera grape. This grape thrives in clay soil and with the perfect altitude apparently between 150 to 300 metres, the hills of Mombaruzzo where Pico Maccario is situated is ideal.

We have recently switched from the 2008 vintage to 2009 and there is a much sweeter nose to this dark nearly purple coloured wine than previous. Amazing aromas of cherries, sweet plums and dark chocolate but the palate reveals a full-bodied dry and velvety wine with some  beatiful structure and fine tannins.

Myself and Ruth who need never worry about osteoporosis due to the amount of cheese we consume but who both have cholestrol counts which are at dangerous levels enjoy this particular wine with saint augur,  brie, aged cheddar, stilton... Do I need to go on??! It is also one of those wines that is so velvety that it can be enjoyed on it's own but also with any rich foods especially Italian - ravioli, pizzas, lasagne etc.

                                                                                                                       Deveney style "designer bag" !

Their whole range carries the same emblem which is pictured to the left and the explanation while a little long winded might be an ideal dinner party filler-inner! So here we go... The shield is meant to symbolise the goblet or wine glass. Roses are a sign of life as they are often used by winemakers in vineyards to alert them of any pests or diseases that might harm the vines. Also in the myths of Dionisus, the god of wine, they used to wear crowns of roses as they believed that roses had the power to prevent the revealing of secrets while under the influence of alcohol. If there was any weight in this last bit I can think of a couple of pals who could benefit greatly from carrying a couple of dozen roses around on Saturday nights!

One of my favourite wines in the shop at the moment and on special at €11.99 (Normally €13.99) , very affordable

Till Next time

Clare

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Aragosta, Vermentino di Sardegna 2008.

I managed to get out and back from Spain despite the Volcanic cloud and an edge-of-seat, close to expired passport. I flew to Malaga on a work ''associated'' trip last Friday and consumed a large quantity of shellfish teamed with Spanish Vermentino and Viura- Verdejo blends. Unfortunately- for the blog and radio the Vermentino consumed on my long weekend is not available in Ireland, fortunately enough for personal reasons the Spanish Vermentino is not available in Ireland - If this makes any sense. My palate/ stomach is not settled enough to relive or taste last Friday/Saturday/Sunday but I do sell a great little Sardinian Vermentino which is just as appealing minus the wine memories of a tough few days.
Cantina Santa Maria La Palma, Vermentino di Sardegna, Aragosta, 2008. A mouth full but it's generally remembered more commonly as the 'lobster wine' due to the orange crustacean on the label. I was always convinced that this shelled fish was a lobster up until last nights debate. It's either a very small lobster or a large prawn. I'll know what you mean if you come in search of it.
A pale lemon - almost clear wine in the glass. The nose, although subtle, has quite complex aromas. I get pear, cloudy apple juice and hints of lavender. Evelyn picks up candle wax and a smokiness, though I can't detect this at all. The palate is completely different, dry, flinty, crisp and clean with citrus fruit but little acidity - hence the easy drinking that comes with opening a bottle.
For those that enjoy a Gavi or Chablis and are looking to try a similar style but something new, this is it. It also warrants a far more financially pleasing price tag than most of the other two on the Irish market.
Try it with sole fish, mussels, sardines or prawns and if you're having difficulty making it to the fishmongers, a summer salad is just as good.
O&O

Ruth.

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