Blairs Wine List

White Wines:

France.

1.          Domaine St. Rose, Le Coq d’Oc, Chardonnay, Languedoc, 2008 €22.95

A deliciously drinkable, partially barrel fermented Chardonnay with a touch of Sauvignon Blanc blended in for good measure. With fresh fruit up front and soft vanilla flavours on the palate, this wine is designed to be very approachable.

2.         Delaille’ Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard, Loire’07 €23.95.

This wine has lots of Sancerre-esque crispness and zippy mineral flavours, but with a bit of a softer feel to it. The flavours develop, with tangy apples & herbaceousness. The finish is very long and dry. In short, really good! Perfect with fish.

3.         ‘Château de Passavant, Chenin Blanc, Anjou, Loire, 2008 €24.50.

Produced by François David and Oliver Lecomte, this exceptional Chenin Blanc is from a tiny production of only 50 cases! This is a round & richly textured wine that is balanced by upright Chenin acidity. It has pronounced lime and green apple fruit flavours &long flavoursome finish.

4.         Domain Saupin, Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine, 2007 €22.95.

At last, a Muscadet worthy of the name. Crisp and dry but with a good aroma and a lovely yeasty richness from the lees ageing. Excellent as an aperitif or with fish dishes.

5.         Bois d'Yver, Chablis, Domaine de Bois d'Yver 2007 €33.95.

George Pico, a small producer, makes Chablis that is truly worthy of the name. Soft, youthful fruit with mineral notes and a crisp clean finish. Excellent with Seafood.

6.        Les Celliers Saint Romble, Sancerre 2006       €35.95

“Top Sancerre like this is hard to beat, putting New World tutti-fruttis firmly in the shade (nothing against New World Wines but this is a different ball game). A blend of old vines and unique limestone-rich Kimmeridgean clay terroir, pitted with fossilized shellfish, giving a mouthwatering experience, worthy of the finest fare. Restrained yet richly intense nettley and ripe lemon fruit aromas the palate is both fairly full with fleshy citrus-cum-peach stone fruit flavours balanced by crunchy pebble-like acidity.” (M.Jukes, The Times)

Spain

7.         Finca Remondio, Verdejo, Rueda, 2008 €24.50.

This wine is produced by the oldest winery in Rueda. An excellent alternative to Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo is quickly becoming an international phenomenon. It is dry with a moderate acidity & flavours of pear, lychee, pineapple & lime. It has a refreshing finish & lasting flavour.

8.         Mar de Frades, Albarino, Rias Baixas 2006 €35.95.

Rias Baixas has lately been one of the more talked about regions Spain. Made from 100% Albariño grapes, this is an intense dry wine with much complexity and flavour. Very fresh aromas of ripe peach and white flowers with a cool lemon & lime finish. The most perfect match for fresh fish dishes. This really is a stunning wine!

Italy

9.         Antica Enotria, Falanghina, Puglia,(Organic) 2007 €22.95.

Falanghina is a grape that’s been enjoyed since Roman times. Full of ripe flavours of green apple, lemon zest and citrus, this one has a splash of another local speciality Greco to fill it out. Here it’s grown organically in the Puglia region of southern Italy.

10.       Renídeo, Pinot Grigio, IGT Venezia 2007 €23.95.

Dry, crisp, light wine from fashionable Italian white grape, Pinot Grigio.

Austria

11.        Höpler, Grüner Veltliner, Burgenland  2007 €26.95.

This is a fine example of Austria signature grape variety, Grüner Veltliner. It has a lovely, fresh nose with floral and green apple scents, some banana. On the palate it is light and dry, with fresh citrus flavours and a little bit of spritz. Very well balanced, this wine is an excellent aperitif or a great match for seafood. Highly recommended!

Germany

12.       Loosen Bros,, Riesling “Dr. L”, Mosel, 2008 €22.95.

 The Loosen family have been long considered one of Germany’s finest wine producers. This has an elegant & racy style. It is fruity and low in alcohol with a refreshing and crisp taste.This wine shows fresh citrus aromas with hints of pears. It has intense and elegant flavours, soft texture and a clean crisp finish. This is a very easy drinking wine. Try with seafood

Chile

13.       Ravanal, Sauvignon Blanc, Colchagua Valley, 2008 €23.95.

 Bright yellow with a touch of green, citrus aromas mingle with hints of honey and vanilla. This a well structured & balanced wine. Try with roasted vegetables, chicken or fish.

New Zealand.

14.       Forrest, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2007 €30.50

The Forrest family are fast gaining an international reputation for producing some of New Zealand’s best wines. Fresh, lively & overflowing with flavour. Gooseberry fruit & cut grass dominates the nose & follows through well to the palate. Great acidity & lingering finish.

Australia

15.       Wirra Wirra, ‘Lost Watch’ Riesling, Adelaide Hills, 2007 €27.95.

A classic dry Australian Riesling – floral and lime aromas follow to a generous palate of citrus and mineral with perfect balance and crisp, refreshing acidity.

16.       Madfish, Unoaked Chardonnay, Howard Park, 2007 €29.95.

One of Australia's very small but quality driven producers. A real stunner, unoaked with lemon flavours - a refreshingly balanced wine. Wonderful!

Prosecco

17.        Borgo del Col Alto, Prosecco, Italy Bottle €25.95.

A fashionable Italian Prosecco produced in the Veneto region. Pale light yellow colour, with fine mousse. Delicately fruity, slightly aromatic bouquet with hints of flowers among which honey & wild apple scents are perceived. Well balanced & light.

Champagne

18.       Piper-Heidsieck, Brut, Champagne Bottle €61.95.

"A fresh, medium-bodied style, this shows finesse, with notes of apple, peach, ruby grapefruit, vanilla and toast. The refined texture & vibrant structure keep this focused & lingering, with fine length. Drink now through 2012." 91 points Wine Spectator

Red Wines

France

19.       Le Mistral, Domaine Sainte Rose, Merlot, Languedoc, 2007 €23.50.

Known for its cheap & cheerful bulk wines, the Languedoc is now producing many wines of class & distinction at value. This Merlot is a deep red/purple in colour with concentrated aromas of chocolate & ripe blue berries. It is medium bodied with soft ripe tannins & has a long finish.

20.      Domaine La Collière Côtes Du Rhone,2006 €25.95.

This wine is packed with intense aromas of blackcurrants and cherries with a hint of chocolate, a fine medium bodied structure with silky tannins and very good length.
21.       Esprit de Nijinsky, Chateau Vignelaure, Provence, 2005 €26.50.

David O'Brien abandoned his successful horse training in Ireland and moved his family to Chateau Vignelaure in Provence. This Cabernet Sauvignon is stuffed with ripe bramble fruit and delightful nuances of thyme and rosemary. Dangerously easy to drink.

22.      Château de Vieux Parc, La Sélection, Corbieres, 2007 €27.95

A great addition to our list. Corbieres is a region unrestricted by wine laws which allows certain winemakers produce stunning & stylish wines suited to the modern palate.. This fantastic wine is deep garnet red in colur with pronounced toasty & peppery aromas of liquorice and red fruits. It is rich, elegant, well balanced, with a small touch of vanilla and spices. Extremely smooth with delicate flavours. Absolutely delicious!

23.    Chateau Peyroutas, St Emilion, Grand Cru ,2005 €37.95

The principle grape used in St. Emilion is Merlot, which makes for an elegant nose of small red berry fruit particularly strawberry and raspberry, opening into ginger spice. Straightforward on the palate with supple tannins and mineral on the finish.

Spain

24.    Cinco Almudes, Tempranillo, Tinto Joven, Ribera del Júcar DO, €20.95

A brand new wine to our list. Tinto Joven means that this wine is unoaked. The lack of oak allows the fruit characteristics of the grape shine through. It has aromas of strawberries & raspberries with floral hints. In the mouth is velvety with well defined but soft tannins. Dangerously easy to drink.

25.      Arrocal, Ribera del Duero, 2006 €26.95.

Hand crafted by a husband and wife team, this succulent red opens with youthful aromas of black fruit, clove and oak. The palate is dense with grippy tannins and full flavours of redcurrant, chocolate and vanilla. Excellent with steak.

26.     Medievo, Crianza, Rioja, 2006 €28.95.

This is a plush modern red from one of Rioja's newest & most dynamic producers. It is full flavoured but elegant with dominant fruits of wild red, black and blue berries combined with cedar wood and well polished soft tannins. It has a gorgeous lengthy balsamic mineral finish & will please anyone with a taste for Spanish Reds.

Portugal

27.      Quinta do Portal, Colheita, Douro, 2007 €25.95.

The first time we have featured a Portuguese wine on our list & we love it. Made with indigenous Portuguese grape varietals, it is 25% Touriga Nacional; 45% Tinta Roriz; 30% Touriga Franca. Effusively fruity, with a deep well of crisp boysenberry, cherry and blueberry flavors and plenty of rich, spicy notes.
Italy

28.      Antica Enotria, Sangiovese, Puglia (Organic), 2006 €22.95.

This rustic red is from Puglia in southern Italy, where the continual sunshine gives intense ripe fruit flavours of red cherry and plum with some characteristic bitter notes. Farmed organically by the di Tuccio family, this is a hearty and full bodied red.

Argentina

29.      Domaine Jean Bousquet, Malbec, Mendoza, 2008 €23.50.

“Vibrant purple hue. A heady, aromatic bouquet emitting raspberry, tar & a whiff of chocolate . Juicy & rich with layers of black cherry, mocha & mineral flavours. A classic example of Argentinian Malbec. Ripe, exotic finish.” 90 Points The Wine News

South Africa

30.      The Wolf Trap, Boekenhoutskloof, Western Cape, ’07 €26.50

This is a blend of grape varieties (68% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, 2% Viognier). The Syrah in the blend leads to the spicy, aromatic nose of the wine, supported by perfume from the Viognier component. The Mourvedre adds structure, weight & density to the the palate. The result is rich, sweet 'n' savoury, & quite fantastic.

Australia

31.       Best, Shiraz, Victoria, 2005 €28.95.

This is a sophisticated, complex, spicy Shiraz. It has aromas of dark plum, spice and hints of French oak with delicious blackcurrant and plum fruit characters, firm tannins and a long flavorsome finish. Great with lamb or steak. Delicious!

Chile

32.      Cefiro Reserva, Pinot Noir, D.O. del Casablanca, 2008 €23.50.

A soft, medium bodied wine with delicate strawberry fruit and hints of cinnamon and vanilla. A small percentage of viognier is added, which gives elegance and structure to this delicious wine.

33.      El Bosque, Carmenère, D.O. Valle del Rapel, 2007 €26.95.

Ruby-red-violet in colour, this wine’s fresh fruit aromas recall ripe berries that blend perfectly with the sweet notes of toffee, cinnamon, and coconut from the oak. On the palate this wine shows good body, structure, and soft, round tannins, making it a complex wine with a long, long finish.

Lebanon

34.      Massaya, Classic Red, Bekaa Valley, 2005       €26.50.

Think southern red Rhône: mouth-filling and supple, with warm spicy strawberry fruit, a sort of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It’s versatile with food-from sausages to game and lamb.