A selection of wine reviews by
JOHN WILSON
Egiarte Joven Navarra 2007, 13.5%, €9.99This blend of Tempranillo and Merlot is fragrant, softly fruity and almost too easy to knock back. Go-go juice with a nice kick, to drink solo, or with white and red meats. Stockists: Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway; 64 Wine, Glasthule; Queally's Supervalu, Kilrush; Red Island, Skerries; Mac's, Limerick; Ardkeen, Waterford; Next Door, nationwide; Gift Hall, Carlingford; Wicklow Arms, Delgany.
La Multa Old Vine Tempranillo 2007, 14%, €10.79Hearty and ripe, with some tannins to even things out, this will keep any large dinner party going for hours. Best with white or red meats. Stockists: Wines on the Green, Dublin; McHugh's, Kilbarrack and Malahide Road; Cheese Pantry; Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway
Fontal Roble Tempranillo 2007, 13.5%, €10.99A little bit of oak, but this fails to get in the way of the lovely punchy ripe cherry and raspberry fruits. Smooth, delectable wine that will go with most foods. Stockists:Wines on the Green, Dublin; 64 Wine, Glasthule; Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway; Cellars Wine Warehouse, JM Vintners, Red Island Wines, Skerries; Deveney's, Dundrum.
Torres Coronas 2005, Catalunya, 13.5% €11.99A more solid Tempranillo with a bit of sinewy muscle to balance the peppery ripe fruit; earthy and a little more savoury, this calls out for autumnal mushroomy stews and grilled meats. Stockists: Very widely available around the country, including Supervalu; Tesco; Dunnes Stores; Londis; Molloy's Liquor Stores; O'Brien's Fine Wines; Next Door; Fine Wines, Limerick; O'Donovan's, Cork.
Borsao Joven Selección 2008 Campo de Borja, 13.5%, €11.00A Tempranillo and Garnacha blend with lovely ripe easy smoochy fruit; and a soft, rounded finish. A great all-rounder for those autumn evenings. Stockists:Claudio's, Newtownmountkennedy; Bin No 9, Clonskeagh; Harvest Off-licence, Galway; Cashel Wines; Mac's, Limerick; Walsh's Wines, Dún Laoghaire; Next Door Bridge Bar, Rathangan; The Vintry, Ranelagh; Redmond's, Ranelagh; On the Grapevine, Dalkey; Martin's, Fairview; Sweeney's, Glasnevin; The Wine Centre, Kilkenny; Fahy's, Ballina; Market 57, Westport; Lohan's, Salthill.
Garnacha de Fuego 2008, Calatayud 14% €12.95A little more expensive than the rest, but I thought this was well worth the money; very classy wine with a lively quality to the fruit, and a bit of personality, too. Probably needs a rustic stew. Stockists:Quintessential Wines, Drogheda; Power Smullen, Lucan; Fallon Byrne, Dublin. jwilson@irishtimes.com