Poggiotondo Chianti Superiore 2007, 13%, €17.99.This is Antoninis estate in Chianti. A modern wine that still shows plenty classic Chianti traits; nicely perfumed, with succulent dark cherry fruits, a touch of oak, and a dry but fresh finish. A good all-rounder with most meat dishes. I would try it out with some grilled herby pork chops. Stockists:Red Island Wine, Skerries; The Wine Boutique, Ringsend; Jus De Vin, Portmarnock; Mac's, Limerick; Red Nose Wine, Clonmel; World Wide Wines, Waterford; www.wineonline.ie; www.thewineshop.ie.
Fortediga Maremma 2006, 13.5%, €15.99. Made from a blend of two Cabernets and Syrah, I loved this medium-bodied wine with its spicy Cabernet notes, cool elegance and long, grippy finish. A slow-roasted shoulder of lamb would do nicely with this. Stockists:64 Wine, Glasthule; Jus De Vin, Portmarnock; The Wine Boutique, Ringsend; Red Island, Skerries; The Corkscrew, Chatham St; Florries Fine Wines, Tramore; www.wineonline.ie; www.thewineshop.ie.
Greenstone Shiraz, Heathcote, Australia, 2006, 14%, €24.99.A very fine, very elegant wine with pointed cool plum fruits, hints of spice, and a lovely long finish. It is still very young with plenty of very fine tannins and will age well for a few years. However, it can certainly be drunk now, preferably with some rare beef, or possibly game. Stockists:ODonovan's, Cork; The Corkscrew, Chatham St; Fallon Byrne, Exchequer St; Eno Wines, IFSC and Monkstown; Jus de Vin, Portmarnock; www.wineonline.ie; www.thewineshop.ie.
Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel, USA, 2007, 16%, €27.99.At 16 per cent alcohol, you might expect a complete monster of a wine. There is certainly no shortage of powerful ripe damson fruits along with a lick of new oak, but the overall impression is of a velvety smooth wine that seduces rather than shouts for attention. Stockists:O'Donovan's, Cork; The Corkscrew, Chatham St; Fallon Byrne, Exchequer St; Eno Wines, IFSC and Monkstown; Jus de Vin, Portmarnock; www.wineonline.ie; www.thewineshop.ie.