Clarendon Hills Moritz Vineyard 2001

I have been lucky enough to try two wines in the last few weeks that were from 2001. This being the second and the first being from California. Up until this point I had yet to try a mature shiraz like this and I was not disappointed. 

The age of this wine is clear from the colour. Intense red currant and rasberry on the nose, backed by eucalyptus, cinammon and chocolate and a hint of pepper. Intensely smooth palate that is full of red balckcurrant and rasberry fruit, with a good spicy kick that leaves an intensely long finish. Tannins are smooth and very fine.

In a word, delicious. If you see any of this left in your local O'Briens pick it up quick as it is reduced to less than half price. 

Paul Dolan Vineyards Zinfandel

American wines have a lot of stigma attached to them, which is generally because of a lot of the cheap plonk that has flooded the Irish market. On a whim a few years ago myself and a friend went halves on a Zinfandel that was over 20 euro ... I can already here the gasps. Isn't that the very same grape that is involved in various travesties that call themselves wine? In short yes, but Zinfandel is a complex grape that can produce anything from the sickly sweet (chaptalized) wines to deep and brooding blockbusters. So where does Paul Dolan stand in this wide spectrum? 


On the nose there is an abundance of fruit that leaps out from the glass. At first it was almost overwhelming, but on leaving the wine to breath for fifteen minutes or so allowed to settle down and show all this zinfandel has to offer. A complex bouquet of sweet blackberry and raspberry followed by intense vanilla and cinammon notes. The fruit follows through onto the palate and is complimented by a peppery kick that gives this wine a long smooth finish. Medium bodied with the same level of tannin this is an excellent wine for those of you willing to go nuts and try something new. You don't have to break the bank either. It is currently reduced from 19.99 to 12.95 in the Mill Wine Cellar.


This wine is perfect for sitting in and enjoying on its own, but will accompany any pork based dish very well (I had it with a sausage casserole). Delicious. 


Wine score: 8/10

Berton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Available from the mill off-licence at the wallet friendly price of 12.95 I find it hard to fault this wine. A deep purple in appearance, the wine displays an impressive nose of wild blackberry, eucalyptus and cinnamon from the oak.. On the palate it is an explosion of blackberry fruits, followed by a little vegetal and firm tannins.

I would highly recommend this for someone who enjoys new world Cabernet's but wants to try something a little different. The reason for this is that the region in question, Coonawarra is considered cool climate (as cool as can be for the land down under). The cooler aspect to the climate coupled with the mineral laden soils of the region give Cabernets from this stretch of the woods the conditions to emulate Bordeaux, but at a nice price and good level of fruit.

Try with lamb or a strong cheese.