Phew! I still haven't quite recovered from the excitement of the first Irish Times Readers' Wine Competition, focusing on new bargain discoveries under £7. Every day for three full weeks, your cards and letters poured in - far, far more than I ever anticipated, crammed with intriguing recommendations. Then came the business of tracking down and tasting all the unfamiliar bottles. It is probably a miracle that I'm still alive.
So first, sincere thanks to everybody who wrote in - and especially to those who went to so much trouble to make my task easier. A lot of readers carefully removed the labels from bottles to help with identification. One even sent the bottle itself. Most of you wrote wonderfully colourful, spoton descriptions of what you liked about the wines you mentioned. Judging by your handwriting (and sometimes your chatty prose), I'd guess you are of all ages, and a quick scan of addresses indicates a wide geographical spread - from Donegal town to Dundalk, Birr to Bandon, Enniskerry to Ennistymon. I hope all the importers who fail so dismally to provide this column with information about retail outlets beyond the Pale will note that here is positive proof smashing wines are drunk with relish in every corner of the country.
The main objective of the competition was to uncover new gems - wines not previously recommended here - which offer outstanding value. Inevitably, quite a large number of your suggestions - more than 40 in total - were wines I've written about before. As I find it extremely difficult myself to remember the names of all the bottles that I've mentioned in the past, I can hardly blame readers for slipping up in this regard. And I must say it was heartening to have so many old favourites endorsed.
But these oldies were far outnumbered by new suggestions. What a brilliantly eclectic line-up! From the dossier of replies (which some market research company would surely pay thousands for), it's clear that Irish Times readers are adventurous drinkers with catholic tastes and - I'm glad to say - not too much time for bland compromises. It was noticeable, too, that the most dynamic players in the Irish wine scene are well represented in your choices, while many of the most sluggish rate barely a mention.
The New World and the Old World have an almost equal claim on your affections. In the New World, Chile and South Africa lead the pack with tasty wines under £7, according to your votes. In Europe, Spain emerges - quite rightly, I think - as the star, closely followed by Portugal, Italy and the south of France. And you're much more interested in red wine than white.
I can't pretend that I liked everything. Despite your best efforts to win me round to young South African Pinotage and Chilean Gewurztraminer, I'm afraid that for some unaccountable reason the former continues to remind me of Jeyes Fluid and the latter cheap perfume. This is probably totally unfair, but there you have it: one of the enduring fascinations about wine is that people's tastes never completely coincide. Fans of these two varietals may be interested to know that Perdeberg Cellar Pinotage 1997 (Dunnes Stores, £5.49) and Concha Y Toro Gewurztraminer 1998 (quite widely available, usually £6.99) were each nominated by several readers. The Gewurz is especially popular with Chinese and Indian food. I even bought a takeaway to go with it, but still no deal.
Some of the remaining suggestions fell by the wayside for a variety of reasons. A few Italian wines, although delicious, had to be disqualified because recent price increases pushed them above the £7 limit. Some wines were no longer in stock when I went looking for them, and a tiny number failed to arrive when promised. Personal judgment dispatched quite a few more: too sweet, too oaky, too dilute or whatever. But that still left an extremely long shortlist of cracking bargains. Picking a mere six winners was as crazy a proposition as having a blank cheque to go shopping in Brown Thomas and finding only half a dozen things you'd want to buy.
It had to be done, however, so below you'll find my absolute favourites among your favourites. A mixed batch of wines from different grapes and different countries - to suit different kinds of food, different occasions and, I'm pretty sure, different tastes. What they have in common is that every single one of them offers something extra, in terms of character, flavour and a level of quality that could easily cost pounds more. I look forward to enjoying them at more leisure right through the summer. Thanks to you.
The winning readers:
Marie Shaughnessy, Lucan, Co Dublin; Declan Bradshaw, Sutton, Co Dublin; Marie Ellis, Raheny, Dublin; Rita Gahan, Newmarketon-Fergus, Co Clare; Gary Dowling, Ashford, Co Wicklow; Norrie Egan, Dundrum, Dublin A case containing two bottles of each wine is on its way to our six winners - with apologies to those readers who also nominated the top wines and narrowly missed the prize. In cases where several people recommended the same wine, the prizewinner was determined by picking one name out of a hat.
White
Danie de Wet Chardonnay sur lie, Robertson, 1997 (Oddbins Baggot Street, Blackrock Clontarf and Churchtown, £5.49).
Dear old Chardonnay was the last thing I thought we'd have in the top six - but this stylish South African is just too delicious to by pass. "Dry but not austere - lovely tones of almond and vanilla married with subtle grapefruit and melon," says Delcan Bradshaw. Yes: there's no oak, but maturation on the lees gives a yeasty freshness, and Danie de Wet's limestone soil seems to add a Burgundianlike, mineral character. Top marks for silky texture, too - and blow me down, they've just knocked £1 off the price. Not much 1997 left, but you'll also enjoy the 1998.
White
Alta Mira Sauvignon Blanc, Lontue Valley, 1998 (Marks & Spencer, £5.99).
"Crisp, fresh, zingy and a very good value Sauvignon Blanc," writes Marie Shaughnessy about this Chilean from the hand of Jacques Lurton. I agree with every word. Though it has that tropical edge that's typical of Chilean Sauvignon, this is predominantly grassy and so refreshing that it could show plenty of rivals from the cooler, classier Casablanca Valley the door.
Red
Timara Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Marlborough, Montana, 1997
(Molloys Liquor Stores, Nolans Clontarf, Cooneys Harolds Cross, Deveneys group, Redmonds Ranelagh, McCabes Merrion, many SuperValus including Killester, Eyre Square Galway, Clonakilty, Kenmare, Kinsale, Bantry, Jephsons Waterford, Vineyard Galway, Greenacres Wexford, O'Donovans Cork and other outlets, usually £5.99). This one made me blush: no great fan of New Zealand's red wines, I bet I've scuttled past it at tastings. But this is a lovely, lively red - juicy and herbaceous rather than stalky, and just right for summer drinking. Here's what Marie Ellis says: "A trio of us bought a bottle of Timara with a pizza and some bread and cheese, after a complicated and exhausting day. The verdicts were: 1. Smooth. 2. Fruity. 3. Warm . . . Simply delicious with simple food."
Red
Marques de Chive, Utiel-Requena, Reserva 1994 (all branches of Tesco, £5.99).
One of the most popular wines of the competition, this succulent middleweight from Valencia has sweet, raspberryish fruit with hints of caramel and vanilla enlivened by super acidity. Rita Gahan discovered it when it was on special offer in January, but it's still a great buy. "Drank the wine with hubby - no food, just telly. We really liked it. Rich, smooth and easy to drink unaccompanied." Hear, hear.
Red
L A Cetto Zinfandel, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, 1997
(Redmonds Ranelagh, Deveneys group, McCabes Merrion, Foleys Cabinteely, Carvills Camden Street, Higgins Clonskeagh, Dalys Boyle, Lynchs Glanmire, Dalys Douglas, O'Donovans Cork, Vineyard Galway, some SuperValus including Donegal Town, Dungloe, Killarney, Castletownbere, usually £5.99). Now for something different - a Mexican red. I've written before about Cetto's Petite Syrah, but tasting it now sideby-side with its brothers and sister, this Zin is streets ahead. An explosion of berry fruit flavours with pepper for added punch and a smooth chocolatey finish. "We think it's delicious - just right for sipping in front of the fire on a cold evening," writes Gary Dowling. Also a winner with spicy food.
Red
San Leonino L'Ornano, Vino da Tavola Rosso, NV
(Searsons Monkstown, Grapes of Mirth Rathmines, Geraghtys Carlow, O'Keeffes Kilkenny, O'Donovans Cork, usually about £6.50) This Chianti-style red - presumably a blend of different vintages - was also nominated by a number of readers, and no wonder. "Acidity is nicely balanced with fruit in this great value Sangiovese," says Norrie Egan, very precisely. Light and appetising down to the last drop, it's the kind of wine that makes me go, "Ah, Italy, yum."