Sale! Sale! Sale!
23 March 2011 Filed in: News & Views Cellar Notes
Spring has definitely sprung and, to celebrate, Ireland’s wine retailers are falling over themselves to attract custom by means of an enticing array of offers. First out of the traps is Mitchell & Son, Ireland’s oldest wine merchant, where everything is reduced by 20% until the end of this month.
Mitchells are, of course, Irish agents for Riedel glassware (read more here), and if fairy godmother had just smiled on me I would be buying some of the Chianti Classico glasses in the Vinum range. This is the most versatile of the Riedel glasses, for it also doubles as the Riesling glass and is the one that is always used in tastings at Food & Wine Magazine. The usual price is €19 and this comes down to a very attractive €15.20 in the sale. To drink? Don’t forget Green Spot Whiskey, usually €42.25, now €33.80. If it has to be wine then the Sipp Mack Pinot Blanc 2008 is drinking beautifully at the moment, usually €13.95, now €11.16.
The Superquinn French wine sale, which runs until 19th April, is an established fixture in the calendar and I still have a couple of bottles of an excellent Saumur 1996 that I picked up there about seven years ago. There is a huge range of wine on offer this time so you need to choose carefully. Leading the pack in the whites is the Classic Collection, White Burgundy 2009 12.5% €10 which, coming from the village of Saint-Bris, is more Chablis-style than full-bodied Chardonnay. Don't go looking for richness. This is lean and racy, dry and crisp. The Vallée Loire Haut Poitou Sauvignon 2009 12.5% €7 is less sure. Pleasant on the nose but a bit hard-edged and brittle on the palate.
If it is lean ‘n’ crunchy red fruit that you are after then the Vallée Loire Saumur Cabernet Franc 2009 12.5% €7 should fit the bill. Those who are after more body will prefer the Etienne Barret Crozes-Hermitage 2008 12.5% €11, while the SQ Saint-Joseph 2009 12.5% €12, with its jagged acid and tannin, may leave Rhône fans disappointed.
I have yet to taste any wines from the Dunes Stores sale, which runs until 12th April, but will report back as soon as I do.
Mitchells are, of course, Irish agents for Riedel glassware (read more here), and if fairy godmother had just smiled on me I would be buying some of the Chianti Classico glasses in the Vinum range. This is the most versatile of the Riedel glasses, for it also doubles as the Riesling glass and is the one that is always used in tastings at Food & Wine Magazine. The usual price is €19 and this comes down to a very attractive €15.20 in the sale. To drink? Don’t forget Green Spot Whiskey, usually €42.25, now €33.80. If it has to be wine then the Sipp Mack Pinot Blanc 2008 is drinking beautifully at the moment, usually €13.95, now €11.16.
The Superquinn French wine sale, which runs until 19th April, is an established fixture in the calendar and I still have a couple of bottles of an excellent Saumur 1996 that I picked up there about seven years ago. There is a huge range of wine on offer this time so you need to choose carefully. Leading the pack in the whites is the Classic Collection, White Burgundy 2009 12.5% €10 which, coming from the village of Saint-Bris, is more Chablis-style than full-bodied Chardonnay. Don't go looking for richness. This is lean and racy, dry and crisp. The Vallée Loire Haut Poitou Sauvignon 2009 12.5% €7 is less sure. Pleasant on the nose but a bit hard-edged and brittle on the palate.
If it is lean ‘n’ crunchy red fruit that you are after then the Vallée Loire Saumur Cabernet Franc 2009 12.5% €7 should fit the bill. Those who are after more body will prefer the Etienne Barret Crozes-Hermitage 2008 12.5% €11, while the SQ Saint-Joseph 2009 12.5% €12, with its jagged acid and tannin, may leave Rhône fans disappointed.
I have yet to taste any wines from the Dunes Stores sale, which runs until 12th April, but will report back as soon as I do.
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