Cuvée Persia 2004; Yann Chave, Crozes-Hermitage Tradition 2005; Les Haut du Monteillet Blanc 2004
Cuvée Persia 2004, Dom de Fondrèche, Côtes du Ventoux, 14.5%, €20:This is an awesome wine made from a blend of 90 per cent Syrah and 10 per cent Mourvèdre. It has a blackberry and blueberry nose, with softening tannin and chocolate vanilla in the mouth and a finish of silky intensity. Vanilla Grape, Kenmare, Co Kerry; Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2, Jus de Vine, Pormarnock, Co Dublin; Donnybrook Fair, Dublin 4.
Yann Chave, Crozes-Hermitage Tradition 2005, 13%, €19.99:Chave's labels are minimalist, with simple clean typography with just a flourish for his name. The same is true of this lean Syrah. Simple and clean with impressively fragrant fruit. No oak, as he believes it kills the fruit, but there is a dryness on the finish which will not be to everyone's liking. From: The Vintry, Rathgar, Dublin 6; Sweeney's, Glasnevin, Dublin 9; Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2; Cheers, Delgany, Co Wicklow; Gaffney's, Nenagh,Co Tipperary; Donnybrook Fair, Dublin 4.
Les Haut du Monteillet Blanc 2004, Vin de Pays des collines Rhônaniennes, 12%, €14.99:Apart from Condrieu, the reds take most of the bows in the northern Rhône, but this low-alcohol Marsanne-dominated blend from rising star Stéphane Montez is impressively rich and soft with just enough acidity to keep it interesting. From: Vanilla Grape, Kenmare, Co Kerry; Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2; Next Door @ Myles Creek, Kilkee, Co Clare; Handmade Wines, Lismore, Co Waterford; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock, Co Dublin; Gaffney's Nenagh, Co Tipperary; On the Grapevine, Dalkey and Booterstown, Co Dublin.