Chateau Camplazens Coteaux du Languedoc, La Clape.

Susan and Peter Close, a couple from the North of England, have always had a passion for good food and wine. After bringing up a family in New Orleans, Louisiana for twenty years they decided to follow a life long dream of owning a vineyard, and the challenge of producing good quality wines
Following several years of research Susan and Peter decided on the Languedoc region of Southern France, recognizing its great potential . At the start of the millennium  they found their  vineyard, Chateau Camplazens, in Coteaux du Languedoc, La Clape. The Close Family's mission is: "to develop the potential of La Clape to produce rich, full-bodied red wines that reflect the tastes and aromas of this special microclimate”

The first of their wines that I tasted was La Garrigue and it really does reflect the characteristics of southern France with its earthy flavours and floral aromas.Like the moors from which La Garrigue is named, hints of rosemary and thyme give way to soft red plums and a smooth gentle finish.Then I tasted the La Reserve which is a complex, quite full bodied and well balanced Syrah based wine, with flavours of red plums, crushed fruits, spicy notes, soft tannins, and hints of fresh herbs.
So if you cannot get to the Languedoc ,bring the Languedoc to you by trying one of these wines.

À votre santé,

Evelyn
THE VINTRY,RATHGAR

CONSUME AND ENJOY IN MODERATION
http://wowireland.blogspot.com/
CELLARS,NAAS ROAD:DEVENEYS DUNDRUM:JUS DE VINE PORTMARNOCK:THE VINTRY RATHGAR

Drouhin Makes You Tall ! Laforet Bourgogne Blanc 2007

Drouhin Makes You Tall !

For the last 130 years Maison Joseph Drouhin has been in the hands of the Drouhin family.Founded in 1880, today the fourth generation is at the helm.I caught up with the very charming and very tall (!)Christophe Thomas ,Sales Director, when he was in Dublin a few weeks ago.
Drouhin have taken a Biodynamic farming approach for the last 23  years. Only natural products are used in the vineyards and they show the utmost respect for the soil, vine and environment.
The family own 73 hectares, one of the largest holdings in the region with vineyards throughout  Burgundy which are of course planted with the two Burgundian grapes.Pinot Noir for reds and Chardonnay for whites.With close to 90 different appellations, Joseph Drouhin offer a great array of Burgundy coming from different  terroirs, (meaning soil in french)
I find with Burgundy that there is huge vintage variation , because the weather is so variable ,so I have decided to start with  their entry level white which is a very good example of where to start....Laforet Bourgogne Blanc 2007 is a lovely fresh wine made to be drank young , it has seen only 10% new oak with a nose of peaches, melon and nice flinty minerality coming through on the palate. It is well balanced and at  under  €15 I think a good example of a white Burgundy. Paired with any chicken or fish dish, Delicious!.....
Enjoy,

Julie
JUS DE VINE, PORTMARNOCK

 CONSUME AND ENJOY IN MODERATION

http://wowireland.blogspot.com

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

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

CONSUME AND ENJOY IN MODERATION
http://wowireland.blogspot.com/
CELLARS,NAAS ROAD:DEVENEYS DUNDRUM:JUS DE VINE PORTMARNOCK:THE VINTRY RATHGAR

Pearl Cartoon Girl checks out Riedel Tasting

Pearl Cartoon Girl

Meet Pearl our cartoon girl. Yes! a cartoon girl ...who spends her time out and about, posing and air kissing with the best of them. She is not a real person and sometimes the people she hangs out with aren`t either! Because the WOW girls are far too busy to be out and about all the time, we have appointed Pearl our cartoon girl, to fill us in on what`s happening around town!

M`dears ...Just received a confidential note from my very good friend Günther Sucher,the Commercial Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy ,to alert me to the fact that another V.G.F.of mine is coming to town .The lovely Max Riedel...or  Maximilian J. Riedel  to you, of the famous Austrian glass dynasty is popping over to see me in Dublin. 

Max ,like myself,is a  regular on the more fashionable ski slopes of Austria where we often share the odd bottle of Sekt or two( using the flutes from the hand blown Sommelier range of course!).

He is quite the man around town, so while visiting me in Dublin I believe Max will find the time,between our numerous lunches etc, to host a unique comparative tasting on Friday, 17 September at The Convention Centre, Spencer Dock .

I don`t normally do convention centres ! but for the lovely Max i will make the exception.

See you there.

Kiss Kiss ,

Pearl

DEAR DOCTOR...let us solve your wine problems

Dr Hannah wine therapist
and perfect housewife

Dear Dr Hannah,

I really hope you can help me as I have a serious problem regarding my sister and her choice in wine.For over fifteen years now she has consistently drank Errazuriz Merlot and refuses to drink any other wines at home.She does sometimes drink different ones when she goes to a restaurant ,but only because her lovely husband insists upon it. Her daughter ,who happens to be my  godchild, has just turned 18 and also seems  reluctant to try wines other than Errazuriz Merlot herself.

What can I do to prevent this legacy going forward.

A worried Godmother  from Dollymount

Dear Worried Godmother  from Dollymount.

Your letter throws up some very interesting issues.Firstly I note with interest that it is a Chilean Merlot that your sister drinks. This could actually be a good thing because Chilean Merlot may have the highest concentrations of polyphenols  which may reduce cardiovascular disease and protect ones memory into old age .While I am not a cardiologist perhaps your sisters lovely husband should not be so quick to order other wines when they go out.

You say that her daughter has just turned 18 and likes to drink Errazuriz Merlot as well.
Could I suggest here that both mother and daughter start keeping extensive notes on the various vintages that they drink. Between the 15 years that your sister has drank it and maybe the 70 or 80 years that her daughter will drink it ,this could form an important  study of Errazuriz  vintage variation which could be a great legacy in  the future.

I suggest the extensive notes just in case that polyphenol memory theory is incorrect.

I do hope that I have helped to solve your problem .

Dr Hannah
Wine therapist and perfect housewife

Lalama 2006 Bodega Dominio Do Bibei Ribeira Sacra

La Ribeira Sacra or Sacred hillside, a barely accessible rural wine region in Northwestern Spain's vast mountainous Galicia (350 miles northwest of Madrid) is a exciting emerging region, and one to keep your eye on.Lalama is made from the Mencia grape, which has been a grape to watch for some time now and finally they seem to be getting it right . I have high hopes for this grape variety and know we are going to see a lot more of it in the future .All the Lalma harvest was done by hand. The vines are from 15 to 100 years old all grown at high altitude.

We discovered this wine only a few months ago, and have sold out already but don't worry there is more due any minute.We are running a  promotion on it , down from €23.99 to €19.99 so it just flew out.

It reminds me of a mature red burgundy for half the price. Its crimson fruit with a savoury touch works really well with most red meats. The wine is one to decant as it just seems to get better the longer it is open and it is really well balanced with lots of fruit .
One to share with that someone special on a Saturday night  for sure.

Enjoy,

Julie
JUS DE VINE, PORTMARNOCK

 CONSUME AND ENJOY IN MODERATION

http://wowireland.blogspot.com

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

Seifried Pinot Gris

New Zealand produces some of the most affordable, diverse and interesting whites the World over. As they are a relatively new wine producing country, they work hard at producing the best and know that the consumer is taking a risk when purchasing, so they’re keen to impress.

Tried this wine Seifried, Pinot Gris from the Nelson region on the South Island and became  a serious fan of this Kiwi white.

I took it in to sell in the shop about 5 years ago. It was when New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs were massively popular on the Irish market but we saw very little else that they produced. I totally fell in love with this wine

This pours a light apple juice/ pineapple juice colour with a slightly pink hue.

The nose displays ripe tropical fruit. Pineapple, dried mango, peach and pink grapefruit. If the wine remains in the glass for long enough, you can pick up aromas of aniseed and fresh basil.

The palate is quite different to the nose, Flavours of grapefruit, pineapple and some citrus along with candied fruit finishing in this lovely balanced acidity.

This is a wine for the warm weather. Ideal with meaty fish- monkfish or lemon sole, fresh garden salads or even just sausages on the barbeque with tomato relish.

O&O

Ruth

Deveneys Dundrum

 CONSUME AND ENJOY IN MODERATION

http://wowireland.blogspot.com

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