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As I write there are three Irish lads (one honorary) down within the Southern Rhône making wine for the ‘Les Deux Cols’ vary of wines which I’ve usually featured on this web page. I tasted one other of their wines this week for the primary time together with a beautiful white from the Northern Rhône, and these two wines that despatched me into the samples pile on the lookout for comparable treats from this most intriguing of areas.
The Northern Rhône begins simply south of Lyon the place the river flows somewhat quick and furiously and has created steep banks and hills good for rising Syrah with a number of pockets suited to white grapes: Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. The Mistral wind blows fiercely right here and vines are generally hidden behind rocks and bluffs to guard younger shoots — the local weather is Continental and cooler than you may anticipate for Syrah.
The North makes up a really small proportion of the area’s wines regardless of the celebrity of Hermitage, Condrieu and Côte-Rotie and that shortage means there are few bargains. By the point the river has reached the Southern Rhône villages of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas it has slowed significantly, the local weather is hotter and Mediterranean in character, and you might be edging in direction of Provençe. The combo of limestone, alluvial and sandy soils right here is wealthy with pebbles and stones and is extra suited to Grenache.
The enjoyable of the Southern Rhône nonetheless is that you could find producers making beautiful wines that match no specific mould. They may make a single varietal Cinsault or Carignan from gnarly previous vines that belie the lower than stellar repute of these grapes; they may go pure Grenache or combine in some Syrah and Mourvèdre which ripens simpler nowadays because of local weather change. Positive, why not add some Viognier into that Syrah-Grenache mix so as to add a little bit of lustre and perfume?
Again to the wines that impressed this column. Yves Cuilleron was on the forefront of a brand new era of producers within the Rhône within the Eighties that helped elevate the bar for the area, significantly for Viognier — there’s a tremendous instance right here. The Irish lads in the meantime have a wine I’ve not talked about earlier than known as ‘Les Traversée’ which suggests The Crossing as they needed to cross the river into the Drôme-Provençale Dept to discover a winery of 60-year-old natural Carignan vines — previous Carignan is plummy and complicated in distinction to its somewhat herbaceous youthful cousins. Take pleasure in.
Stockist: Dunnes Shops (in 35 shops nationwide)
One non-Rhône wine this week however constructed from Rhône grapes Grenache Blanc and Marsanne plus some Vermentino to mood the to the everyday floral-honey notes of the opposite grapes. Gentle honey, apricot and lemon verbena aromas, creamy and fruity however with a stable quantity of zing on the end. Suited to creamy pasta dishes or maybe some recent mussels.
Stockists: Bridge St. Kenmare, Ardkeen, Connemara Hampers Clifden, Grainey Scarriff, Little Inexperienced Grocer.
From an natural and biodynamic property to the north-west of Châteauneuf-du-Pape within the Gard Départment — and a little bit of a discover as I’ve not talked about it earlier than. A mix of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, floral and berry aromas, brilliant juicy and supple with darkish cherry and blackcurrant fruits and tremendous focus and heat fruits good for Autumn days.
Stockist: Whelehan’s Wines, whelehanswines.ie
Unique to Whelehan’s Wines, that is decreased by €2 of their September sale and is a mix of 30% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 23% Mourvèdre, plus Marselan and Carignan. Vibrant pink in color with a purple centre; pleasing ripe pink and black fruit aromas with a touch of violets, spice and darkish chocolate. On the palate, that is fruity and juicy with mouth-filling berry fruits and good size — tremendous high quality for the worth.
Stockist: O’Briens
That is presently €21 however will come right down to €19 on September 27. Vacqueyras is simply to the south of Gigondas and gained its Cru standing in 1990 and is nearly at all times nice worth. Darkish fruits with a garrigue, natural edge and a few darkish chocolate-tinged black cherry fruits — supple and concentrated with good weight and texture and a satisfying silky freshness good for slow-cooked lamb.
Stockists: Bradleys, Le Caveau.ie, Inexperienced Man, Clontarf Wines, Blackrock Cellar, Lilith Wines, Redmonds, Stanfield Home Louth.
Cuilleron is as well-known for his viognier as for his Côte Rôtie — this cuvée is from a single Viognier plot simply beside (à coté) the AOP space so a little bit of a cut price (Cuilleron’s Condrieu prices round €55). That is beautiful, richly perfumed with floral, peach and tropical aromas, heady and luscious however with a stony recent streak for stability.
Stockists: 1601, Bradleys, Searsons.com, 64 Wines, Blackrock Cellar, Clontarf Wines, Drink Retailer, Deveneys, Fallon & Byrne, siyps.com
Made by the identical Irish trio behind Les Deux Cols — 60-40 Carignan-Grenache. Comfortable, plumy, ripe berry aromas, supple and juicy with pretty weight and creamy voluptuous fruits and much more complexity and class than you’ll anticipate from a regular Côtes-du-Rhône. The 2019 is because of change the 2017 however ought to be equally tasty.
Stockists: Celtic Whiskey Store, Grasp Of Malt, Teeling Distillery, Teelingwhiskey.com
That is attention-grabbing. We overlook that the majority blended whiskey has an enormous maize content material so why not make maize the main focus? That is triple-distilled, predominantly maize-based, and matured in ex-Bourbon barrels with an extra 4 years in ex-Bordeaux Purple Wine casks and bottled at 50% ABV, and it’s totally scrumptious.
Floral pink fruit aromas with a touch of cassia bark, candy apple, and caramel flavours on the entrance palate adopted by honey and apple pie. There’s a peppery, spicy edge to the end however what lingers longest are the honey and caramel notes — strive pouring some on caramel ice-cream to see what I imply.
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