5/14/2024 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

How is this not from Tuscany? OK, that comment is slightly tongue in cheek, as I know the history behind where it comes from, and Chiara herself. This is really a stunning wine, full of what I have come to expect from a top quality Sangiovese, which this clearly is.

Full of cherry, acidity and tannins working together to give something beyond just a glass of wine. I have just ordered the 19 & 20 riservas to compare, but it will be hard to beat this for quality at the price point - I will be on a zoom call/chat with Chiara next month, and really looking forward to this - A most definte winemaker to follow.

2/1/2024 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

A Sagrantino from @roccadifabbri and @consorziovinimontefalco a DOCG in Umbria. 100% Sagrantino, deep colour, almost blackened red. High acidity, grippy tannins, high alcohol (15%), and an above average full body.

On the nose and taste, black cherry, blackberries, toasted oak showing, and maybe a hint of herbs in there too.

My second bottle of this, sadly my last for now, and one to look out for in the future.

1/28/2024 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

ast October, had the pleasure of tasting this 2019 Brunello di Montalcino at @tenuta_fanti as a pre release sampling. It was so luscious then, I had to order a case. Normally, new Brunello goes into the cellar for the long haul, but I just had to try one to see if my initial thoughts were not simply "rose-coloured spectacle" ideas, given the location etc.

Pleased, no, absolutely delighted, to report that I was right then, and right now. This is a spectacular wine today. Will it develop further over time, I have no doubt, but today it is heavenly.

Black cherries, Ruby vision, licorice and an essence of coffee aromas, all go into making the first sip expectant. No disappointment at all. Fruit, dark, a smoothness in the mouth, sweet spices, and as for the finish, well, words are inadequate to describe the lingering sensation, as I moved the glass away.

As complete an example of Brunello and Sangiovese as you will find. I don't usually rate on points as I am far too inexperienced to distinguish, but in my own mind, and as a lover of Sangiovese, this is as good as it gets to perfection. (I've posted a 98 all the same, just because it needed a rating to stand out)

If you see it, snap it up. @enotecadipiazza in Montalcino had it in stock, or direct from the winery. If you love Sangiovese, you will love this wine.

1/19/2024 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

80% Prugnolo gentile, 10% Canaiolo nero, 10% Colorino

A tremendous VNdM, full of fruit, and as vibrant as any I have tasted.
Elements of tobacco on the nose, the expected Cherry Essence all there, hints of raspberry, maybe even those red licorice sticks we enjoyed as kids.

The tannins were evident, but not breath-taking, with the thought that this wine will age a good few years to come.

12/27/2023 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Inbetween Christmas and New Year, and instead of left overs from Xmas Day, we decided on a white fish dish, cod, with a pepper sauce, along with sprouts with chorizo, carrots and potatoes. So this Verdicchio was taken from the shelf, chilled a little, and was a delightful accompaniment for the meal. Lemon and almond nose, a high level of acidity which worked wonders with the pepper sauce, unexpectedly fluid rather than honey like on the palate, but with a lingering finish, and residual citrus resounding in the mouth.
A perfect lighter wine to enjoy between the heaviness usually found at this time of the year.

12/17/2023 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Blend of the two red Cabs - Franc and Sauvignon. Certainly prevalent Can Sav on the nose. along with the deep ruby colour in the glass. Good black fruit flavors on the palate, along with oaky vanilla overtones, and while the tannins were relatively light, there was a lingering finish, leaving you wanting more.

6/17/2023 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Smokey, black fruit, some dark cherry notes, and a spicy, peppery finish which lingered for a good while.; Overall a wine I would certainly try again. A bit like a dark Pinot Noir with hints of Syrah, but less tannic.

10/24/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Garnet to Ruby in colour. I failed to decant, but that didn't seem to have a major influence on the wine.
On the nose there was a strong aroma of red fruit, cherries and berries, with a slight after smell of those apple pies my mother used to bake, the ones full of cloves, with an obvious oaky vanilla also present.
Despite the nose giving off red fruit, the flavour profile on the taste was more black fruit, with both sweet and savoury spices also there - Black pepper and cinnamon, and an after taste of black chocolate laced with licorice. One thought that I had was of a recent composte of figs that I had picked up on my travels, but it was a fleeting moment, then disappeared.
A good lengthy finish certainly left me wanting more, with the tannins smoothed out after ten years. Another hidden gem from Pesquera, certainly a hotbed for wine in Ribera del Duero - I will seek out further.

8/14/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Still got a zing to it, green apples, with the citrus there, but perhaps past its best. However, very enjoyable, and went well with our fish tonight.

8/13/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

On a hot summer night, at least hot for the North of Ireland at 28 degrees, this chilled zingy wine went down a treat. Straw yellow in colour, slightly viscous in texture, and bursting with fruit. The sweet/tart tang of apricots striking the palate, after aromas of lime and lemon citrus.

Lasting acidity in the mouth on a medium finish. All in all, this would work as an aperitif wine, or as I did, accompanying a white sauce based, non meat, pasta dish, chilled and refreshing.

8/13/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Very typical Cab at a modest price point. Dark, black fruits, hint of sweetness on the finish, although shortlived. Easy drinking, tannins not overpowering at all.

Would look for more recent vintages for a winter midweek Cab when the fancy takes me on a wet Wednesday in November...

6/18/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Lots of dark fruit, but good acidity led to a balanced mouthfeel, even a little puckering of the lips, with surprisingly low tannins, but a reasonable (medium +) finish. Vanilla was hiding behind the fruit from the oak ageing, but was nowhere near as overbearing as many similar wines can be. All in all, a pleasant bottle for an entry level range, making me look to seek out higher levels of the grape in the future.

5/31/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

A very rare grape indeed. Lees than 5ha grown globally, and all of that in the capable hands of Marco Marrocco at Palazzo Tronconi.
Light red in colour with a nose of dirty red cherries. Quite light on the palate, but with high acidity and strong fruit flavour a very inticing drink for mid week.

4/29/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

First of my Spring collection from Roscioli Wine Club, and as a Sangiovese aficianado it was an easy choice for Friday night and steak night.

Once I pulled the cork, I poured a small amount, and upon tasting a sharpness, felt that a decant was probably the best option to allow the wine to open up a little. With an 80/20 split Sangiovese/Canaiolo, a slightly more dominant Sangiovese than allowable, and the 60 minutes resting opened up the wine, taking away that sharpness. The juice is aged for 6 months in French Tonneaux, followed by 6 months in the bottle before release.

As one would expect the colour was deep ruby, and those red cherries were prevalent, along with redcurrant, and hints of violets, even more floral subtleties were there too.

On the palate, the tannins were smoothed out by the Canaiolo, leaving a fruit centered mouthful, with those red fruits clear through to the moderate finish, which I had expected to be longer than it was.

All in all, a typical Chianti, nothing special, but nothing at all wrong with it, just didn't leap out to me as something to rave about, but if you poured me a glass of it anytime, I'd be more than happy to drink it with you.

4/30/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Saturday night, holiday weekend, but dank and miserable out there, so a warming Barbera called for. A 100% use of the grape, no blending here, and oak ageing is used, and noticeable, without being overpowering in this, The Three Bishops, from Vinchio Vaglio.

Rich ruby red in colour as its slips into the glass, with purple around the edges. The immediate aroma oozing out of the glass is of ripe red cherries, bursting with freshness, followed by black pepper, vanilla from that oak, and then caramel, not the salted variety, more a peppery caramel!

The fruit came through really strong on the palate, and the acidity, so familiar with Barbera, was well in check, and the low tannins keeping the mouth feel smooth, rather than harsh. There was a tough of earthiness in the mouth feel, more damp hay, than soaked soil, and while the finish was long and dry, I looked forward to the next mouthful to continue the exploration.

All round, an excellent example of oak aged (12 months) Barbera, calming the acidity, but far from killing the fruit, which shone through. Thoroughly enjoyable Northern Italian Gem, and additionally it doesn't break the bank, showing great value.

4/9/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Received this in a Pot Luck Case from @wineonline.ie to support the crisis in Ukraine. A 100% Montepulciano D'Abruzzo from DiCamillo from 2015.

Deep ruby in colour, with no visual displays of ageing, however the nose indicated the use of oak, and with a leather belt mustiness to mask the cherry trying to break through.

Good levels of acidity, along with modest tannin structure, resulted in a medium bodied mouthful, with black fruits, notably those cherries, and as the wine opened up over the evening sweet spices came to the fore. Good length on the finish.

All in all a very enjoyable bottle of wine, and I understand it retails around €18 here in Ireland, an excellent QPR, worth seeking out.

4/1/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Bright red, light body, good concentration with a reasonable length. A tad earthy on the nose, as you come to expect from biodynamic wines, especially Pinot Noir.

3/25/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Something different, and very interesting, from Lazio. A Cesanese di Olevano from the hands of Damiano Ciolli from 35 miles east of Rome, on the volcanic High hills of Olevano Romano.

A stunning wine, with aromas similar to a Pinot from Burgundy, mildly barnyard, strong red fruits, very pale in colour, almost translucent.

Low in tannins, creating an excellent taste, great flavour on the palate, and a good medium plus finish. This wine, the Silene, was sourced through my Italian Wine Club, Roscioli wine club, and I'll definitely be looking out for more, along with their Cirsium made from 80 year old vines.

3/18/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Picked this up on the recommendation of Glenn at McGarry's Independent Wine Shop in Banbridge. This Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the McLaren Vale, in Australia, was originally produced for the Chinese Market, but owing to the tariff war between the two countries, the 2017 supply was looking for a different distribution. A deal was made by the Collett Family, at Woodstock, and the wine has found its way to the North of Ireland, and we are the lucky ones here - The Chinese losing out..

45 year old vines, from the original plantations of the grape on the site of the old vineyard cottage back when the Collett family bought the land in 1973, with small bunches of marble like berries, which are harvested a little before full ripening to allow for the herabaceous flavours to develop alongside the ripe black fruits synonymous with Cabernets. The juice is fermented in steel for 5 days , before maturing in oak, leading to structure and complexity within the wine, and a wonderful colour.

That colour is plain to see as the first pour begins, bright purple, and strong aromas of the fruit leap out of the glass immediately. Black fruits, cocoa, and peppery spices are present, and onto the palate the softness of the tannins is very noticeable compared to many other versions of the most widely planted grape in the world. Moderate acidity with these softer tannins leads to a mouthful of fruit and flavour, and a fullness of body. With alcohol at a high 14.5%, the finish is lengthy, leaving a sweetness in the mouth, and desire for more.

At the present price of only £9.99, in Banbridge at least, a true bargain, certainly plenty of bang for your buck, and our gain is certainly the Chinese's loss - Uncertain as to how much of the Cottage Block is available on these shores, but if you see it, I recommend you snap a few bottles up if you are an Australian Cabernet lover, well worth it.

3/15/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

A darn good wine - That's how I described it initially as I was drinking it last night, and exactly to the point.

I purchased this through Husky Wines, their UK Importer, and I would encourage people to find the wines from Vinchio Vaglio as they are excellent value for money, and as I say, darn good.

Rich Ruby Red in colour, hinting towards violet/purple, with great aromas of red fruits, cherries and followed by spice notes, possible caramel, possibly some cloves coming through.

On the palate the first thing to notice is how smooth the wine is, with very little tannin residue, the acidity, so common in Barbera, was there, but leaving a smooth feel in the mouth. The red fruits were there, with a slight trace of black pepper. A medium body overall, and a medium finish, leaving tastes of sweet spices behind.

This wine sees only stainless steel and cement, with no oak ageing at all, in the Fresca Style, and is all the better for it, as it leaves the fruit to come to the front, resulting in a well made, smooth tasting, easy drinking wine, which I look forward to drinking again, as I was wise enough to buy a few bottles, and will certainly be back for more in time.

2/18/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Just a brief note. This was planned for a Zoom Tasting with my DNS Wine Club, but as we hadn't seen each other in such a long time, we spent the time chatting, whilst sipping away at the wine, without really giving more than passing comments.

Having said that, this Austrian GV, coming from Schrattenthal, the smallest wine town in the country, showed a great typical GV profile, ripe pear fruit, along with that peppery spice so familiar in GV. I found the acidity was not as powerful as some, and certainly a wine I would recommend, especially at the price, compared to others of the same grape, at least those available here in Ireland.

2/15/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Latest delivery (Feb 2022) - 15 bottles of Lot 2/21 - 10% 2020, 20% 2018, and 70% 2019.

Notes to follow in due course.

2/13/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Sunday night, and off to the northern Tuscan border with Liguria, for this 95% Canaiolo Nero, better known as a blending grape for Chianti, Vino Nobile etc, a grape that adds magic to Sangiovese, far more so than any other blender.

But here we see it in its own majesty, with 5% of an even rarer grape, Barsaglina/a.k.a. Massaretta, from @terenzuola .

Macerated on the skins and vinified in cement for around 90 days, before heading to Slovakian oak for a year on the Lees, and then back to cement before bottling.

Ruby red in colour, more forest floor than fruit on the nose, la garigue of southwest France springs to mind, spicy hints, pepper, and maybe wild berries sneaking through.

On the palate, the acidity is noticeable, while the tannins are light. Quite a light body, berefts a tang, that peppery spice, and maybe a thought of sea salt licking the lips. The final finish lasts, with the fruit finally coming to the fore, those berries arriving at the last minute.

All in all, an excellent selection and this being a 2017 version, I am sure it would age well and develop over the next decade or so. Having said that, it's drinking well right now and certainly a style of Tuscan IGT to look out for.

1/30/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Dark brooding liquid, with aromas of the forest floor, dark fruits rising from the glass. A silky smooth texture allowing the blackberries and plum flavours to come through in the mouth, and a lengthy finish, with hints of peppery spice left on the tongue.

A blend of Hairy Grenache, Carignan and Syrah, fermented with natural yeasts, and then aged for two years in barrels, and a further two in bottle before release. An excellent wine, paired with a beef ragu, and enjoyed into the night.

1/26/2022 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Once I managed to break through the yellow wax sealant on the bottle (not a fan of wax), and opened the bottle, I was struck by the pale yellow, hints of gold dust, in the colour as I poured the first glass.

Initial aromas were of citrus, but more apple and pear started to come through, finishing off with the mearest hint of vanilla, indicating some oak may have been used here.

On the palate, low acidity and a creaminess of texture were very obvious, with the pear noted on the nose coming through the mild citrus fruit on first taste. There was an excellent length to the finish, leaving the mouth refreshed, and looking forward to a further sip.

Chardonnay is not my go to white grape, but as with so many wines, when you drink a good one, it leaves you thinking of going back for another bottle. This lies in that category. It's a Plus from me.

10/21/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Beautiful colour from the first pour really caught my eye. 2018 vintage. Verdejo usually comes out as straw, but this was moving well into the golden, almost amber in colour - Would it be oxidised beyond recognition?

Thankfully not - The wine was still fresh, the aromas of citrus came through, and on the palate, the acidity had mellowed into a smooth texture, verging towards a honeyed style, but with that tang of acidity still lingering in the background. Limes sprung to mind as I sipped, and the finish lingered long after the final swallow.

I fear the latest vintages are no longer supplied by my importer, but I will certainly seek out further supplies of a wonderful partner for my pork steaks, and clearly a wine that would pair well with white fish as well as my white meat.

9/24/2021 - Liam3494 wrote:

Have to say I was expecting more from this wine, having decanted it for around 90 minutes before tasting. Initially I found very little fruit on the nose, or the palate, with the ageing characteristics of dust, oak, tobacco to the fore.

It did improve once we sat down to dinner, working well with the steak dinner, but even after dinner, the last glasses only saw the meerest hint of fruit, dark berries, maybe hints of black cherries, but overall a mildly disappointing wine.

I would say it wasn't a bad wine. It worked ok with the food. Maybe I expected more, but the overall lack of fruit, the fact that it failed to really open up, and the general disappointment left me under enthralled.

Would I try it again -Yes, but possibly with a different vintage, as I understand that 2011 was a difficult year in Penedes. Always willing to give a wine a second chance.

9/11/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Excellent crisp, acidic, slightly effervescent, wine from Romania, with Italian influence, as the winemaker, Roberto Di Filippo also has vineyards in his home country of Italy, in Perugia. Green apples to the forefront, with a lingering finish, from a grape rarely found outside of Burgundy, and even more rarely found as a 100% Aligoté.. Excellent Value, and a sign that Romanian Wine is on the March...

8/16/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Absolutely agree with the previous comment regarding this wine. I too didn't make a formal note, but noted aromas of violet and roses, and a very dark red colour. Very easy drinking, smooth tannins, with a hint of spice on the lengthy finish. Would be very happy to drink this again.

8/13/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Excellent example of a very well made Languedoc wine. Old vine Carignan, along with Grenacne and Syrah, with a wee dash of Mourvedre make up the final result.

Needed a little time to open up, but when it did, it was a nectar worthy of a Grande Reserve Title. Hints of spiciness amongst fresh fruit emerging, Dark red, red and black fruits, with a perfect balance between acidity and smooth tannins.

Extra layers emerged as the bottle began to empty, with tobacco and pepper popping out behind the fruitiness.

A wine I would certainly be happy to have more off in my cellar, and at a very reasonable price point, great value for a quality wine.

6/26/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

A Merlot based Bordeaux from a sub AOC of Saint Emilion, this is drinking well some 1o years after harvest. I have it on good information that 2011 wasn't necessarily the best year for this wine, but I found it Bold, but with only a small amount of Cab Sauvignon, less strident than many from this locale. Garnet in colour, with tobacco and leather aromas showing the ageing in wood, with dark fruits, plums mainly, in abundance. Well balanced Acidity with the moderate plus tannins leaving me wanting more.

6/25/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

A perfect, smooth GSM, with Carignan thrown in to boot. Caramel and leather, with peppery spice. Medium acidity makes this another easy drinking Southern Rhone, well worth the price, and served up alongside my Friday Night Steak -

6/20/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Recommended by a number of sources, including Phil Crozier, and at a price of only €5.99, worth a punt. Having lived in Argentina myself, I have come across this grape before, as it is more widely available locally there. Aldi have imported this in bulk, and if you are used to Argentine Malbec, then this will come as a shock to you - Very different.

First impressions show strawberry and cherry fruit, with hints of menthol, or eucalyptus on the nose. Ruby in colour, soft tannins, light body and very easy drinking, with a lingering finish.

This wine would be one to serve at a party, chilled, as an easy drinking wine that you can't complain about, and at the price point at the moment, worth having for a midweek tipple, especially in the summer months, sat out on a warm evening. In Argentina it is common to see this style in the glass with ice cubes, not that I would recommend that, but pop it in the fridge for a while, serve chilled, you have a winner...

6/19/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Not a tasting note as such, just recording that Foglio 61 is a Sangiovese based wine, not Sagrantino. The producer makes a Foglio 11 which is based on the Sagrantino grape.

6/17/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

This is the second label wine from the iconic Fillaboa estate. Vines are grown using the Pergola method on stony clay soil right up to the banks of the Té and Miño rivers.

Single site, hand-harvested, gently pressed and fermented using indigenous yeast and left on lees for an extended period.

(Wine Explorers Club Information)

As it says above, taken from the Club Notes, this is the second string Albarino from Bodegas Fillaboa in Rais Baixas, but in my opinion is only second string in name. A crisp, almost golden straw wine enters the glass, and the image appears in my mind of waves crashing against the Galician coastline, and the salt watered air descending on the vineyard.

Aromas of apples, pineapples, burst out, to be reflected upon the first sip of the wine. The acidity tingles without overpowering the fruit and citrus flavours enveloping the mouth, and that hint of salinity, so prevalent in wines from this North Atlantic outpost comes through, or is that my imagination and those images in my head of breaking waves.

The finish is modest, not lingering for long, but leaving you wanting more. I paired this with a summer salad with fruit and cold cuts, as against the usual seafood combinations, but it worked really well, serrano, and even some Italian salami in there. A perfect summer evening.

5/29/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

I'm never at my best in writing notes for white wines, as I simply don't drink, rather than taste, enough to give great comparisons. However, this latest offering from the M & S Found range from Friuli Venezia Giulia in north east Italy, had me dreaming of summer afternoons, sat on the balcony of a hotel, soaking up the sun, and admiring the views of rolling hills and church towers from villages across northern Italy.

The pale yellow liquid in the glass emitted aromas of peaches and lemons, with undertones of flowers, and as I raised the glass to my lips, the aromas mixed to provide a summer sensation, worthy of the chilled wine. On the palate, the citrus flavours shone through, with hints of spice, possibly a touch of pepper, and with no oak, the fruits were front forward, with the acidity moderate, and the overall taste that of a dry, crisp, easy drinking summer wine.

I have been impressed with the Found Range to date, and at the price point, an excellent introduction to a grape seldom seen on our shelves so far away from its roots.

5/23/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Such a light colour, almost transparent in the glass, but a superb example of a young Nebbiolo, and could easily be confused with some of the brilliant Barolo's around. At the price point, an excellent substitute, and you may not even notice...

5/21/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Excellent entry level Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. Cherry fruits in abundance, bright colour, exactly what you would expect from a young Cab Franc.

5/22/2021 - Liam3494 wrote:

Been working my way through the Found range from Marks & Spencer and on to the Pais from the Itata Valley in Chile. A tad on the bland side for my personal taste, possibly needed a heavier dish than the pork tenderloin, pan fried in reduced stock, maple Syrup, onions and mushrooms, served over rice.

Light to Medium body, red fruits, quite mellow, reminded me of a Beaujolais Nouveau, and Gamay. Struck me as a sort of bulk wine style. Easy drinking, with little complexity, and at £10 (bought in NI in sterling), there are better value wines at lower prices. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with the wine, maybe just not my cup of tea.

5/8/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

It’s no secret that Sangiovese is my favourite grape variety, and I enjoy the various examples such as Brunello di Montalcino’s, Vino Nobile’s from Montepulciano, and the Chianti & Chianti Classicos from Tuscany. This particular wine is a blend, unlike Brunello’s, and the 2017 vintage consists of 85% Sangiovese, with 10% Canaiolo and 5% Colorinio. The resulting mix is fermented in steel vats, at relatively low temperature to preserve the primary fruit aromas, before being aged in small oak casks prior to bottling and release.

The Il Palazzino farm, owned by Alessandro and Andrea Sderci, is located in Monti in Chianti, 20 km northeast of Siena, in the southern part of Chianti Classico Area, with Argenina being one of the oldest hamlets in the region, and with 3ha of vineyards, 310 metres above sea level, around 25,000 bottles are produced each year.

And so to the wine itself. Medium ruby in colour, cherries leapt from the glass, before subsiding as the liquid settled down, and further aromas started to emerge. An earthiness was evident, but in a reassuring way, not overpowering the fruit, with raspberry brambles mixing with the cherries, and floral notes of violets. Having located the obvious primary aromas, there were further complexities to find, with sweet spice, tobacco and hints of leather, hinting of the ageing potential of this wine – All this before taking my first sip.

I should note here that the alcohol showing on the label indicated 14.5%, but with medium acidity and tannins that were in complete balance, not too harsh, but enough to get your taste buds tickled, the level of alcohol was not an issue, as some can be at this level and above. The fruit aromas, transferred to the taste, with cherries and red fruits fighting for attention, with a hint of sweetness in the mouthfeel, a smoothness of flavours, and an exceptionally long finish for a wine that comes in at a very reasonable price point.

Paired with my Sirloin, mushrooms, and baby potatoes tossed in olive oil and black pepper, it was a match made in heaven.

4/30/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

This new range from M&S has hit the target. A Mazuelo from Rioja, or Carignan as the grape is known in France, with ripe cherries, full of fruitiness, with undercurrents of spicy pepper. Others have mentioned a herby aftertaste, but I didn't really find that. All in all, a well priced, slightly unusual grape, and hopefully, one that will encourage people to look out for more of the same.

4/1/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

A 2018 Martin Wassmer Spatburgunder from Baden in Germany, otherwise known as Pinot Noir/Nero. Its been a long time since I sampled German Reds, and this didn’t disappoint at all. Pale Ruby in colour, light in the glass, and the first thing I noticed on the nose was the lack of that familiar funkiness associated with Pinot’s from Burgundy – here I could smell the fruit oozing out of the glass, red cherries, raspberries, maybe cranberries too. The acidity was relatively sharp, but the fruit balanced out the tannins, and while a light texture, the taste was lingering long after the last swallow, leaving sweet spices on the residual.

If you are a Pinot lover, this will be right up your street as an everyday Pinot, at a price that should put the French Wine Industry to shame. This may only be Martin Wassmer’s entry level wine, but on this example, it will be well worth seeking out further wines from his stable.

4/1/2021 - Liam3494 wrote:

An interesting combination of grapes go into this blend, mainly indigenous Portuguese varieties. 30% Fernao Pires, 25% Verdelho, 25% Antao Vaz, 10% Chardonnay and 10% Arinto.

The colour was enticing, quite straw like, and the nose had a buttery hint, indicating the oak involved in the fermentation, with pear and only slight indication of more citric fruits. On the palate the buttery aromas turned into vanilla with that pear being there again, but overall the fruit was being overshadowed by the woody influences. Having said that there were some tropical fruits notes trying to break through, and the finish stayed with me for a good lengthy time.

If you enjoy an oaky Chardonnay, this will appeal.

1/16/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

A new addition supplied by a New Start-Up, a boxofwine.ie who supply bottles based on your preferences, curated by them. This was the first to be sampled, as part of an online tasting of Primitivo. A youthful, rustic wine, red fruit in abundance, followed by some cassis, and oak was certainly in play here, although may be chips rather than ageing barrels.

Tannins were in play, being young (19), but overall not as jammy as New World Zinf's tend to get. Good length to the finish, and all in all a decent everyday wine, rather than anything to knock your socks off. Great at the price point, and as an appassimento wine, certainly comparable with pricier wines from the north east of Italy.

1/8/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Earlier last year I wrote about the Vineyard Rambles taking place on Instagram over lockdown, by Katie Jones from Domaine Jones in the village of Tuchan, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Last summer I ordered a mixed case from Katie, as we continued to enjoy the rambles, from vineyard to winery as the 2020 Harvest came in and the wine-making commenced for the Vintage.

I have been working my way through the wines, and saving the two rarest wines for a special occasion. Well, last night was one of those nights. The twelfth anniversary of my far better half and I meeting in person for the first time, in London, and so, it was time to pull the cork on one of those bottles. The bottles in question are the La Perle Rare Syrah de Falandrin 2015. The grapes come from a single vineyard, Falandrin, marked with an arrow in the tea-towel map above, (available from the shop at the website), with only a couple of barrels, aged in the finest of French Oak for 12 months, produced each year. The bottles are numbered, and the one I opened last night was #450 of 800 from 2015.

What can I say about this wine? I am not one for hyperbole, but despite having been fortunate to enjoy some tremendous wines in recent weeks, mainly from my Italian Collection, this wine is certainly up with the very best I have tasted in recent years, an absolute delight, and the only disappointment I have is that I have only one more bottle of this heavenly juice sitting in my cellar. The 2016 is available now, so I will be making a point of ordering some before too long, (bit of an issue in deliveries at the moment thanks to Brexit), hope Katie can save me some.

SO – Why did I find it so special?

I am always in two minds as to whether or not I should decant. Rule of thumb, I open the bottle, pour a small amount into the glass, and judge the feel of the wine (also helps for the pictures!). The very obvious first glance at the drop poured, the dark, inky liquid, had me. The aroma rising strongly from the pool of juice had an earthiness, with vanilla essence, and fruit fighting to come through – It needed to mellow, and so into the Decanter to develop, as we started on cooking dinner.

Two hours later, the sirloin steaks cooked, the vegetables served, and the dining table set, it was time to fill our glasses from the decanter. The mellowing had taken place, with the aromas now being led by the fruits, raspberry and blackberry, followed by that oaky vanilla, and toast, with the earthiness still there, but now reduced to a minority partner. As we took our first sips, the flavours were to explode in the mouth. Ripe red fruit, followed by caramel, with hints of liquorice, the toastiness from the French oak, spice notes too, which lingered long on the finish, black pepper, even cinnamon, combined with the flavours from the steak providing an absolutely wonderful combination. The silky smoothness of the wine further developed, long after the dinner was complete, and the last sips taken had me almost begging for more.

As I say, this wine ranks up there with the best that I have tasted in recent years. If you haven’t checked out the wines coming from this area of Southern France from the hands of Katie Jones, you are missing out on absolute delights. Katie is continuing her rambles on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30am (French time), 7:30am for me here in Ireland, and while that time may not be great for my American friends, the Rambles are available on Instagram Live IGTV later in the day, and well worth viewing, giving an insight to the year of the Vineyard.

I know this is a cliche, especially for those of us of a certain vintage, but as Billy Paul once said, “Me and Mrs Jones, We got a thing, goin’ on”, and in this case, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!

1/2/2021 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

I recently wrote about the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino from the Il Palazzone winery, which I enjoyed on Christmas Eve. Following on from that, I decided I couldn’t wait any longer to sample the first of my very Special Single Vineyard bottles of their Le Due Porte from 2015. This was the first year that Brunello has been made from grapes solely from the high altitude plot, just outside of the town of Montalcino itself, some 540m above sea level. With only 1.24 hectares of vines, on sandstone and loam soil, the supply was to be limited.

2015 was a spectacular year for Brunello, and Italy as a whole, and the early expectations of superb vintages to develop over time are well documented by others far more knowledgeable than myself. I have already cellared bottles from a number of different Montalcino producers of the 2015, but this was to be my first sample of the year, having been tipped off that, while it will mature to even greater delights over time, it was drinking superbly today, and so I decided to take the plunge.

The wine was matured in Slovenian Oak for 36 months, before being transferred to two 10HL oak barrels to complete the ageing, before finally maturing in the bottle before release late last year. Only 2209 75cl bottles were produced (plus a small number of larger editions), and each bottle is individually labelled, my first being number 218.

Given the youthfulness of the wine, it was clear that a lengthy decant was in order, and as I was preparing a Top Rump Beef Joint, needing plenty of cooking time, I pulled the cork and decanted early in the afternoon, giving a good three hours of time to open up, as I headed to the kitchen to commence the meal preparation.

The decant was perfect, and once dinner was ready and served, I poured my first glass. The colour that was glowing in the decanter oozed into the glass, the rich translucent ruby red liquid caught the light, flickering as it settled, granting a bewitching first impression.

Immediate aromas of fruits leapt from the glass, the familiar cherry tones of Sangiovese, laced with red fruits, raspberries and plums, and if I wasn’t mistaken, hints of licorice, tobacco and salted caramel, (I guess even my nose had fell in line that all caramel aromas come salted these days!). One thing I did note, given the vinification and maturation in oak, was there were no over-reaching aromas from the oak, just subtleties from the tobacco, nothing over-powering.

Onto the taste – The ripe fruits filled the mouth. Once again, the familiar cherry, with a freshness from the acidity which exaulted the flavours, developing each second, from cherry to raspberry, with savory spices rounding off the profile, before a hint of minerality, an earthiness trying to come through. The texture was rounded, with the tannins, although present, not fighting for appearance, just combining with all the other elements to produce an overall perfectly harmonious taste, with a length that belied the fact that I had swallowed the wine, leaving a lingering sensation of something exceptional.

They say that 2015 was a Vintage of a lifetime, although, I am lead to believe that 2016 is to be a match. I was accused of infanticide by a friend for opening this so early, and while I plead guilty to the desire to explore this wine today, it is absolutely drinkable now as a superb example of what can be done with Sangiovese in Montalcino under an expert hand, and with a single plot. I am sure that the Le Due Porte 2015 will continue to improve in the years to come, and given its starting point, I look forward to the next time to see how perfection can be improved upon.

12/30/2020 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Light weight, but very pleasant, easy drinking wine from Venezia Giulia. Absolutely agree with eth descriptions given, in that it is between a Pinot Noir from Burgundy, and the richer Nebbiolo from Piemonte. A rarity in the market here in Ireland, but worth seeking out as an enjoyable wine, paired with a mushroom and chicken sauce combined with tomatoes, all over pasta, and excellent together.

12/24/2020 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

The first of my 2012's. Opened for Christmas Eve Dinner, with rib of beef, roast potatoes, the ubiquitous Sprouts tossed with pancetta, and puree of carrot & turnip. I decanted it for 2 plus hours before tasting.

Absolutely perfect.

Bright ruby colour, aromas of cherry leaping out from the decanter as I poured into the glass. The full nose showed cherries, plums, oaky vanilla, and then onto the palate and my taste buds. The explosion of fruit, red berries, the cherries again, all in abundance. Good acidity held everything together, with the tannins mellowed with the ageing process, both from the Sloevnian barrels, and latterly the bottle ageing. The finish was lengthy, with the aftertaste of ripe fruits lingering in the mouth, long after the glass has returned to the table.

I was fortunate to visit the winery in 2019, and have since started to build different vintages of their Brunello. This was the first of my 12's, and although this was a perfect example, and drinking divinely, there may well be more to come, and I look forward to exploring further developments of this excellent wine.

12/4/2020 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

After sharing a zoom tasting with Paolo, the Master, and listening to Tim Aitken's CorkTalk with Paolo, it was a delight to open my Chianti Classico, and I wasn't to be disappointed.

Crimson in the glass, and strong fruit aromas, red cherry notably, in this 85% Sangiovese, 10% Caniolo, and 5% Syrah blend from Tuscany. On the palate, good sharp acidity, melted into the fruit sensations, with cherry and cranberries fighting to show top dog, and with tannins that hinted a smooth, almost sweet, finish, which indeed there was, moderate in length, and leaving a plesant sensation in the mouth void, asking for more.

An excellent wine, although I had been warned that previous vintages had been somewhat bitter, I can't compare, but if this is anything to go by, the future for this wine is very positive, and I detected no bitterness in the tannins at all.

Highly recommended.

11/28/2020 - Liam3494 Likes this wine:

Cherry fruit, balanced acidity, and the tannins almost smoothed out. Probably a few months short of being at its peak, but overall an excellent accompaniment for my home baked Chicken Parmesan.