Wine with Leslie: Three great value wines I enjoyed lately

There has never been so much choice in the market and wine prices seem to have stabilised with no notable price increases this year

Fri, 21 Mar, 2025 - 02:00

Leslie Williams

Reasons to be joyful. I turned off the news alerts on my phone this week and my world seems to have become a calmer place. So, this week, I’m all about the joy. Easter is coming, I have a holiday to Italy booked for May to visit my son who is studying in Chieti-Pescara University in Abruzzo, a region I have not visited before, and the Cork Whiskey Fest is on this weekend.

This is the third Cork Whiskey Fest and there are over 20 events happening on or around MacCurtain St. Many are booked out, such as the Expo in the Metropole but check Corkwhiskeyfest.com just in case of cancellations. At worst, you can head to the Shelbourne Bar which is the official ‘social hub’ for the fest.

Whiskey sales worldwide have taken a bit of a downturn in the last 18 months but there is still a lot of optimism in the Irish whiskey world from anyone I have spoken to. New markets seem to be expanding or opening up all the time (Korea, New Zealand, India) and the oily richness provided by Irish Single Pot Still seems to be in demand. There are so many new Irish whiskeys to try, and so many more in barrel waiting to be bottled.

Judging from what I’ve been sent, the quality of Irish whiskey is at an all-time high — another reason for optimism.

As for wine, there has never been so much choice in the market and prices seem to have stabilised with no notable price increases this year. Organic wine is no longer a novelty and new wine bars seem to open every few weeks. Do you need more? Aldi have a clutch of new wines in store this month and O’Briens have a sale on.

Suggestions this week follow no particular theme other than being well made, great value wines that I tasted recently.

Pierre Jaurant Côtes de Gascogne, France €8

Aldi have a clutch of new wines in store for spring and summer and this bright fresh Gascon white was one of my favourites. From 50-50 Colombard and Ugni Blanc, citrus, apple and pear aromas, brisk and crisp on the palate with a hint of pétillance, a touch of lime, and a clean dry finish.

Also watch for the Crémant de Loire at €15 and the German Pinot Noir at €10.

Aldi

Lunaria Coste di Moro, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo €15

This is on offer this month in O’Briens as part of their annual wine sale (which has been moved from its regular September spot). Demeter certified, this is from a bio-dynamic co-op with minimum intervention winemaking and minimum addition of sulphur at bottling. Ripe blackberry and dark cherry fruits, lively and plush on the palate with good concentration. Perfect for rich pasta ragu sauces.

O’Briens; obrienswine.ie

Domaine La Sarabande P.I.G. Wine, Languedoc, France €16

PIG stands for Paul and Isla Gordan, an Aussie-Irish couple making juicy organic wines in Faugères in the Languedoc. I visited them a few years ago and loved all their wines.

Exclusive to Matsons, this is 65-35 Syrah-Mourvèdre with beguiling blackberry and blackcurrant aromas, herbal garrigue notes, brightly fruity with some structure and baked fruit flavours and a crunchy black cherry finish.

Matson’s Grange, Youghal and Bandon

Beer of the week

Wicklow Wolf Hideaway Helles Lager, 4% ABV, 440ml, €3.80

It is safe to say that Irish craft brewers have fully figured out the German Helles style of lager and here is yet another example (also try Hopburgh).

This pours a pale gold with a nice touch of haze, citrus, floral and noble hop aromas, tropical hints and a crisp clean palate with balancing malty biscuity notes.

A moment of Zen, as the can says.