Tesco Update

A quick update on the 2 bottles from Tesco

1) Tesco Argentina Malbec Reserve 2008. (at left)

I saw this in Mary Doweys 101 Great Wines under €12. I've never tried it but as I am a fan of Argentinian Malbecs and this wine was priced at a mere €6-69, I could hardly refuse.

Initially on first taste I was a little disappointed with this wine as it tasted a little bland. However after an hour or so the wine opened up, developing some spice, some useful tannins and a decent finish. A steal at this price.

8/10 (extra mark for the value)

2) Chateau Cazal Viel Saint Chinian Cuvee des Fees 2006 (at right)

Also in Mary Doweys 101 Great Wines under €12. I have been a big fan of this wine since I saw it lauded in the Irish Times (I think) about 5 years ago. We haven't had it for a while but at €10-99 it's great value. It's from the Languedoc and is made from the classic Rhone varieties Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.

We brought this to a friends house and drank it after a 2000 Chateau Macquin St Georges from St Georges-St Emilion which was very very good. The Cazal Viel held up well, its modern, slightly upfront style was not an unpleasant change although more of the Bordeaux wouldn't have gone astray, alas it too had been a present and existed singularly at that location.

I'll get this again a do a full review as it really is a bargain.

Note: My guest blogger June was oop North today and got me two bottles on Penfolds Bin 389, a snip at £19-99 (its €30 down here), full review to follow.

Tesco Wine festival 2009 - Revisited

Had another look around "Tesco Wine festival 2009 " in the Merrion centre today, on the off-chance that I missed something last week and I did manage to find a couple of interesting items.

1) Tesco Argentina Malbec Reserve 2008. (at left)

I saw this in Mary Doweys 101 Great Wines under €12. I've never tried it but as I am a fan of Argntinian Malbecs and this wine was priced at a mere €6-69, I could hardly refuse.

2) Chateau Cazal Viel Saint Chinian Cuvee des Fees 2006 (at right)

Also in Mary Doweys 101 Great Wines under €12. I have been a big fan of this wine since I saw it lauded in the Irish Times (I think) about 5 years ago. We haven't had it for a while but at €10-99 it's great value. It's from the Languedoc and is made from the classic Rhone varieties Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.

Mary Dowey - 101 wines under €12

At the "do" on Tuesday night, the spot prizes were bottles of wine along with Mary Dowey's book (at left). Mary,  former wine correspondent for the Irish Times and now wine editor with The Gloss, has compiled a list of 101 wines under €12, although I suspect some of them may be slightly more than that now.

This is a great book, if, like me, you are interested in finding good value wine. There is a wealth of info on each wine including food matches, simple tasing notes and where to get each one.

I have come across a good few of these wines over the last few years and all the wines that I have tasted that are in the book are indeed very good value.

It has also suggested a few wines to me that I have seen in shops, which i will now take a punt on given that they have been recommended. BTW I am not saying Mary Dowey is God, but I have found that a wine recommended by a professional critic is rarely less than interesting, even if it may not be to my taste.