Sensational ‘Sanroc’

Or biggest selling Gewürztraminer is the sensational Bolognani ‘Sanroc’.  The picture on the label is evocative of the “Bear of Vigolana”, which is a dark shape that appears on the snow-covered North Wall of the Vigolana mountain, which stands over the vineyard.

Sanròc: an exclusive vineyard on the South-Eastern hill of Trento, in San Rocco, on the edges of the Bindesi forest, bordering above, with the famous Aquiloni nature trail, which was specifically created to allow even partially-sighted persons to autonomously enjoy this natural oasis. The Sanròc is Bolognani’s premiere white, which is planted in rows (guyot) of only Gewürztraminer grapes, which they attentively grow caring for their environment. In mid-September the grapes are hand-picked and the best bunches selected to make into wine; the wine is then rested on its lees for eight to ten months, which highlights its character. It is bottled at the end of summer and after at least eight to ten months of ageing in bottle is released.

 

Intense and full of flavours such as rose water, lychee, orange blossom, melon and jasmine. While rich this wine is balanced by the fresh aromatic flavours. Ideal for fish-based platters, especially seafood, or simply on its own, to enjoy the flavour of a great white wine.

Normally €24.95 but currently on promotion with 20% at €19.96

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Introducing Bodegas Peique

You can find Bodegas Peique on the hillside of Castro de la Ventosa, established in the old Bergidum Flavium, the pre-roman city from which El Bierzo got its name. The Peique family decided in 1999 that it was the perfect moment to make public their project; the third generation of the family, Jorge, Mar and Luis started working together and since then they have battled to introduce their wines to local and international markets.

Their wines comes from small plots of vines of over 60 years old, worked by hand and located on sandy and clayey slopes. In Bodegas Peique everyone has something to say, starting with the grandparents who watch closely the process and ending with the granddaughters who come at the grape harvest.

Try their excellent Bodegas Peique Mecía, Bierzo 2018, deep red colour with intense violet shades. On the nose the fragrance of ripe red fruit, blue flowers and minerals stand out. Excellent fleshiness in the mouth, perfumed, ample and tasty. Concentrated and mature. Normally €17.95 but currently on offer at €14.95

 

 

La Dolce Vita – An evening of Italian Wine Tasting Evening

Join us on what will hopefully be a sunny July evening for a tasting of some of the best Italian wines available in Ireland. We will have over 20 stunning Italian wines open from Alto Adige in the North all the way to Salento in the heel of Italy. Customer favourites like Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and Valpolicella, to exciting wines such as Traminer Aromatico, Vernatsch, and regions and styles making a comeback like Soave and Orvieto.

Tickets are €5 per person but are redeemable as a €5 off voucher on the night against purchases. Tickets can be booked here on Eventbrite.

Soave – a superb Summer sipper!

Soave (“swah-vay”) is a small Italian village near Verona and Venice which is famous for its white wines made mainly from Gargenega grapes. It is full of citrus fruit flavours, like melon and it has a touch of almond. As great as Soave is, and it is great as a Summer sipper it is much maligned by years of cheap bulk crap served in Italian restaurants in Ireland!

Courtesy of http://www.winefolly.com

Coffele‘s delightful Castel Cerino Soave Classico exuberantely draws in the taster, keeping its excellent harmony and elegance. With the passing of each year, its youthful quality changes and becomes more mineral in the flavour and complex in the taste. Exclusively from their  organic hillside vineyards in Castel Cerino, in the heart of the historic Soave Classico zone, which range between 490-1470 feet above sea level.

The wine is a brilliant, straw yellow, with hints of green when young. The aromas are subtle and fresh, suggesting white flowers, from hawthorn to cherry blossoms, underpinned by fresh apple, white plum, sage, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry, with structure and good balance. The long finish has attractive almond notes. Makes an ideal aperitif. Also perfect with fish and shellfish. Goes very well with delicate pasta dishes, especially risotto with peas or asparagus. €17.95

 

 

Grüner Silvaner – The Hipster Grape!

Grüner Silvaner is making a comeback. Best known as a component of Liebfraumilch and production boomed in the 1970s to the detriment of quality. But now its on the way back like vinyl and vintage clothing. he white variety is amongst the oldest cultivated vines in Europe, and is known as the Sylvaner in Austria and Switzerland, and Silvaner in Germany. The crossing is Traminer x Österreichisch Weiß, and is often called the ‘Österreicher’, or Austrian. Yields neutral to fruity wines. Aged versions usually show an expression of gooseberry.

 

The Hofmann Grüner Silvaner 2018 offers fresh notes of citrus fruits, herbs and a touch of spice lead to a bright and zesty palate with lots of orchard fruit flavours. Green pear and crunchy red apple notes are perceived before a crisp and dry finish. A zesty and aromatic white that is excellent with fresh fish dishes and also vegetarian cheese quiches. 

Available here for €16.95

 

First of the Summer Wine (Tasting)

Join us for our first tasting of the summer, when we will be showcasing 10 of our favourite, fabulous wines summer wines! Think sizzling BBQs,grassy gardens, balmy evenings and sunny weekends.

Taste your way through different styles of bubbly, shades of rosé, zippy Sauvignon, crisp Riesling, summer berry reds, and big bbq reds!

Let us tell you the story of small, boutique, craft & family run winemakers.

 

RESERVE YOUR GLASS HERE

The New Arrivals: Areal Vinho Verde

Quinta da Pousada is located in the sub-region of Vale do Ave in the heart of the Vinho Verde region. Owned by José Areal & family, Quinta da Pousada has 6 hectares of vineyards and is understood as a family farm, devoting itself diligently to produce high quality wines.  All oenological practices applied are intended to elevate the high quality wines. The Region of Vinho Verde is a region dominated by the influence of the Atlantic, creating a microclimate in the sub-region of Vale do Ave influencing very particularly the vineyards of Quinta da Pousada. The temperature does not show extreme values, resulting in a mild climate of not too cold winters with heavy rainfall and summers relatively dry and cool.

With vineyards of granitic sandy loam soil and South exposure it allows the correct number of hours of sunlight necessary for the best maturation of the grapes.The vineyards of Quinta da Pousada have a modern system of planting, acquiring more harmonious maturation and achieving wine of distinctive quality. In addition, the evolved technology used in the vinification process, ensures the strict protection of the typicality of the grapes.

Throughout the year there is an extreme care to preserve the vineyard. Defoliation is done regularly, but never in excess, allowing the grapes to breathe and absorb the sun without burning. There were significant investments starting with the vineyard (the most important for the quality of our wines) with the expansion of over 700 m² planted last year, then continue with the remodeling of the winery, a process of great dedication and passion and at the same time of continuous learning and improvement.

Areal Vinho Verde 2018 €13.95

The Vinho Verde Areal – Colheita Seleccionada , our Selected Harvest, a blend of the 4 grape varieties Arinto, Loureiro, Trajadura and Alvarinho, presents citrine color and clear and bright look. At taste the flavor is delicate, hot and melodious.

Areal Arinto Vinho Verde 2018 €14.95

The Vinho Verde Areal – Arinto reveales on tasting a fresh, lively and persistent flavor. Outstanding mineral notes, with a very pretty nose of green apple and lemon. Presents a clear appearance with bright and citrus color. Very refreshing.

Albarossa – a peculiar Piedmontese grape

Albarossa is a crossing of Nebbiolo di Droneroand and Barbera, developed in 1938 by Italian enologist, Professor Giovanni Dalmasso. As a varietal wine, Albarossa has many of Nebbiolo’s aromas, such as violet and rose, but lacks Nebbiolo’s distinctive tarry notes. In terms of flavor, Albarossa has more in common with Barbera and typically shows dried and sometimes spicy herbs, and plenty of red fruit characters. When pressed, the juice makes for ruby-red wine with purple tinges. Up until the early 2000s there was very little of this variety in existence, even now only a handful of wineries produce wines from this variety!

One of the wineries that produce this wonderful wine is Cossetti. Run by three sisters who received their wine-making passion from their father who made wines in Piedmont all his life. Their Albarossa is made from grapes that are hand picked, pressed and macerated for 15-20 days; induced malolactic fermentation after racking and subsequent aging in cement vats for I year. The resultant wine is, intense ruby red colour with purple reflections, clean and ample bouquet with scents of red fruits and light spices. Full-bodied and fleshy palate, with good structure and softness. And pairs well with pasta dishes, white and red meat, medium aged cheeses

 

 

Chenin Blanc; something for the Adventurous

The largest producer of Chenin Blanc is South Africa (around 50% of all plantings), however it originates from France and there are many great examples of it in the Loire. But the South Africans have taken to it as their national white grape. This doesn’t mean it is always treated with the respect it deserves! It often over cropped and blend to make cheap bulk wines. The wine is usually made into 2 styles a dry style with lots of tart pear and apple notes and some ginger spice and a slightly off dry style, with richer flavors of ripe pear, passion fruit, and honeycomb.

Mulderboscch ‘Steen op Hout’ Chenin Blanc 2017 €17.95

Sourced from mature vines grown predominantly in Stellenbosch, with one component being grown in Darling. This is a great example of richly flavoured Chenin Blanc from an excellent vintage. It has wonderful ripeness yet retains freshness and vibrancy from the first nose right through to the lasting finish. Ripe tropical aromas of mango, pineapple and papaya are lifted by a crisp, refreshing apple note. The palate is defined by a delicious fine mineral texture leading onto a succulent mid-palate. The final impression is one of a full flavoured, yet precisely poised Chenin Blanc. Equally lovely with roast chicken as with baked fish or just pair with good friends

 

LOVE MALBEC YOU NEED TO TRY THIS…

Malbec, and particularly Argentinian Malbec is known for being rich, dark and full-bodied with red fruit flavours, woody notes and even a hint of chocolate. If this style is for you, try another grape, known as Monastrell in Spain. Ego Bodegas ‘Acuma’ 2017 will give you the richness and tannin you are after to replace your beloved Malbec. It also has Dark cherry red, vigorous. Intense aromas of red and black fruit with a sultry spiciness. The taste is rich and soft, almost velvety. The tannins are fussy and despite the great ripeness, there is plenty of freshness to  keep the wine in balance. This is a Southern Spanish gem from a family-run wine estate that won’t disappoint Malbec-lovers. Currently on offer at €14.95