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What
the critics say....
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| Both The Wine Guide – The Best of Wine in Ireland and The Wine Republic have published their 2005 edition. The Wine Seller has wines recommended in both – see our wine list for all the recommendations. | |
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| **** 2002 Domaine de la Brune - Beaumes de Venise €14.95 HC: Ripe strawberry nose with a savoury edge; similar on palate along with soft but supporting tannins and decent strawberry and leather finish. JW: Perfumed nose with elegant, well-balanced red fruits on the palate; a touch tannic but otherwise a very classy wine. (pg 67) | |
| *** 2001 Reserve de St. Patrice €13.70 HC: Ripe, raisined fruit bouquet; drying out just a little; soft plum flavours with a hint of cherry; attractive, but drink up soon. JW: Iodine and minerals on the nose; well-made, smooth, ripe fruits, a nice spicy touch and a good, ripe follow-through; supple and very drinkable. (pg 67) | |
| Rating system. | |
| ***** - Five stars indicates a great, truly classic wine. | |
| **** - Four stars indicates a wine of outstanding quality | |
| *** - Three stars indicates very good quality | |
| ** - Two stars indicates good quality | |
| * - One star indicates average quality | |
| (Extract from article on pages 64 to 67 ) | |
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| A blind wine tasting of thirty-four South African wines comprising of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot over €12 was led by Liam Campbell at the French Paradox wine bar. | |
| This sampling of black grape varietals, emigrants from Bordeaux showed constancy in quality. All thirty-four wines tasted were a pleasure to savour and a pity to spit. Like the South African nation, while still finding their identity, their wines are growing in confidence and assertion. | |
| Wine of the Month | |
| Muratie Ansela 2001 [The Wine Seller] €18.25 Superb aromas of spicy baked plums and cedar wood. This is a Grand Canyon of a wine - it has depth, breadth and commands respect. The different strata of flavours reveal Christmas cake fruit, cinnamon, cloves; each different but part of the whole. Produced by an estate founded before the 1690 Battle of the Boyne and uses a quarter Shiraz in the blend to the predominant Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Merlot and Cabernet Franc for added interest. Wonderful, refined, superb. Beef stewed slowly a day before in good red wine, cloves, a chilli, onions, tomatoes and mushrooms and served with fromage frais. | |
