In vino veritas - what wine are you drinking?

Black Sheep

Last week - Yalumba Barossa Shiraz. A more expensive shiraz than I'd normally buy, at around 28 euro, but it was really excellent. I would class it alongside d'Arenberg's The Dead Arm, but it's a fair bit cheaper. I'm thinking this will be a good option to stock up on over Christmas and St Stephen's Day.

This week - been enjoying Trumpeter from Rutini wines, Argentina. They have an excellent Malbec and Malbec Syrah, both around the 20 euro mark.

Pen Rua

In lieu of making a new thread, jumping in here in the first instance.

I recently saw a TikTok of a wine review for Folias de Baco Uivo Renegado Vinhas Velhas (2021). I've been really intrigued by it, and I'm not normally a wine guy. My usual haunt of Bradley's in Cork doesn't seem to stock it, and I've only been able to find it from a shop in Dublin (Green Man Wines) but delivery is €15 which is a bit saucy for me when I'm only trying to get this wine on a whim.

My question to the thread: is anyone familiar with this wine and able to recommend something in the same vein, please?

https://www.greenmanwines.ie/products/uivo-renegado-folias-de-baco

RonanC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121367070#Comment_121367070

Fairly certain they had this on the shelf in MacCurtain Wine Cellar in the last few months. Might be worth a call to see if they still have it.

Pen Rua

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121367382#Comment_121367382

And Boards.ie delivers. They do not have that specific wine in stock, but offered to look to bring in some bottles next time they do a round of orders. They have a Renegado sparking in stock however.

odyssey06

Iirc someone was looking for good Zinfandel.

This is a good one from Think Big - a 2021 Lodi. No smoke taint which affected some 2020s from California.

15e in Grapevine offie in Glasnevin and Kilbarrack

https://thegrapevinedublin.ie/products/think-big-zinfandel

Buddy97mm

In Dunnes today and picked up a few bottles of Cune Gran Reserva at the very good price of €14.40.

This is one my Christmas wines of choice, stemming back to many years ago when I always received a wooden boxed magnum from a business associate.

Dunnes have an ongoing 20% off all wines. Normally very sceptical of such offers and find most supermarket offers to be on wines that were at an artificial high price previously, but this 20% off seems very genuine with good value at wines priced between €15 and €20.

Ezeoul

Can anyone recommend a nice red wine to go with T-bone steak, please - and where to buy.

If it helps, I will be shopping in Dunnes and Aldi tomorrow.

I am purchasing as a gift, but I don't drink, and am absolutely clueless about wines. TIA.

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121494973#Comment_121494973

Cant go wrong with a Chianti. Versatile and a safe bet.

Love this from Dunnes for 14 quid.

Or this from Aldi for 11 quid

odyssey06

If that's from the Specially Selected range in ALDI it'll have 20% off at the moment.

There's been some recommendations for Bordeaux from Dunnes eg Chateau Becherau now at €11

https://www.dunnesstoresgrocery.com/sm/delivery/rsid/258/product/chateau-bchereau-bordeaux-suprieur-75cl-id-100831061

And a little more expensive at €15 or so look for those marked Cru Bourgeois, which tend to be safe bet.

https://www.dunnesstoresgrocery.com/sm/delivery/rsid/258/product/-cru-bourgeois-chteau-victoria-hautmdoc-750-ml-id-100291501

Ezeoul

Thank you both, I got them the chianti and the bordeaux from Dunnes, so they have a choice!

Thanks again. 🥩🍷

irish_goat

Flying out of Tenerife airport next week, anyone know if there's any value to be had at the duty free? I need a bottle to take to my sister in Amsterdam but wondering if it's just as good to buy it when I'm there.

odyssey06

A new Polonez store opened up in my vicinity, lured by a 10% off coupon (alas not on booze) I checked it out for some random items.

Picked up a bottle of Georgian dry red wine, Suliko Saperavi, for €12.50.

The dry is important here as quite a few of the red wines stocked are sweet or medium dry.

It is nice, somewhere between Shiraz and Pinotage with a slightly smoky finish, would work well with BBQ. Lighter than either of those grapes and 12.5% ABV.

And wine adjacent… I also picked up a bottle of Armenian 5 star "cognac" made with grapes from the plains of Ararat. Very smooth, in a blind taste test I would have said it was cognac, very smooth and easy sipping. 500ml for €22.50.

brocbrocach

Buy in shops on the Island itself, much cheaper and different stuff to be got to the usual set list

the beer revolu

Georgian wine is very much on point these days!

odyssey06

Also from Polonez, a Bordeaux red Chateau Bernachon €11.

This comes in at 12% ABV but does not taste 'thin' at all, and would be a good fit for Bordeaux fans looking for something lighter perhaps for a Sunday lunch.

Seems to be available in some independent off licences also and Carry Outs also.

https://anpoitinstilofflicence.ie/products/chateau-bernachon

odyssey06

A new grape variety for me, a lesser known Italian red varietal 'Refosco'.

Part of the Marks & Spencer 'Found' range, €11.75.

I'll crib tasting notes from its IWSC bronze award and M&S site:

A juicy and approachable bluberry-fruited wine with good concentration and finish.

Refosco dal peduncolo rosso grapes cling to their bunches by distinctive red stalks. Indigenous to north east Italy, they are used to craft this flavoursome red.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/found-refosco-case-of-6/p/wnp60627992

Buddy97mm

New grape type to me too, although does sound interesting, let us know if you try

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122281564#Comment_122281564

It was very nice, although not in a "I've never tasted anything like before…" way but in a very drinkable Italian red with a bit of depth to it. Works with food or on its own.

Definitely worth picking up a bottle if you a M&S.

The Nal

Anyone with a good recommendation for boxed wine?

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122290844#Comment_122290844

So this appears to be well recommended

https://www.obrienswine.ie/products/altano-rewilding-red-doc-douro-2-25l

But Ill have this with my steak

the beer revolu

There should be way more wine in boxes, imo!

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122294580#Comment_122294580

Lots in the UK and France. None here really. Its great for music festivals.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122294641#Comment_122294641

Way less packaging and more efficient transportation!

Bad to have around if you have sneaky teenagers around, though! (they were popular here for a bit in the 80s, at least in our house!)

odyssey06

Almost a disaster… wanted to pick up a bottle of Georgian red wine ahead of their crunch game v Portugal on Wednesday night in the Euros. The local Polonez out of stock!

Luckily there is also a Polo store nearby and they sorted me out with a Badagoni Saperavi dry red wine for €11.30.
Dry is important here as mainly off dry reds stocked.

Something of a bargain as it is listed as €16 - €18 elsewhere.

https://www.thecorkscrew.ie/badagoni-saperavi.html

https://leonards.wine/products/badagoni-saperavi

I think M&S also stock a Saperavi now in their 'Found' range for those curious.

The Nal

Plumptious beauties

the beer revolu

Was gifted this a couple of months ago. Decided it probably wasn't getting any better (1999), so decided not to wait for a special occasion (and also, greedily decided not to share it with future guests). Instead, Mrs beer and I had it with pork chops, rosti, roast tomatoes and spinach.

It was delicious, very dry - almost vinegary, in a good way, but really complex, if still quite light. Gorgeous - polished off the bottle.