WINE: Wyndham Estate Bin 333 Pinot Noir, South Eastern Australia 2002 and MontGras Quatro, Colchagua 2002/3.
Wyndham Estate Bin 333 Pinot Noir, South Eastern Australia 2002. Pinot Noir with seabass? Consternation rippled through One Pico restaurant when the menu with matching wines was glimpsed. But yes, it was terrific, as the sea bass was a robust dish with beans and merguez sausage. This smooth, raspberryish Pinot with minty aromas and a refreshing bite is a red middleweight made for autumn - it will go with mushrooms, chicken, duck or warming mid-heat curries - at an absolutely magic price. From Tesco; selected Spar, Gala and Londis outlets; Savages, Swords; Dew Drop, Athboy; Harvest, Galway; Grape Vine, Athenry and others, usually €
MontGras Quatro, Colchagua 2002/3. Sven Bruchfeld, new winemaker at MontGras, was in Dublin in September to show some of the Chilean company's best wines. This rich (but not over-rich) red was my favourite - a luscious, characterful blend of Merlot, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec with concentrated flavours of cherries, prunes and black chocolate. Pour it with a beef stir-fry and propel yourself towards heaven. From Tesco; Superquinn; leading Dunnes Stores outlets; selected SuperValus/Centras; selected Londis stores; O'Briens; Wine Well, Dunboyne; Mill, Maynooth; O'Donovans, Cork and others, €11.99-€12.99.