Le Tobele Valpolicella Classico 2005, 12.5%, €12.99 You have to work to find wines at around 12% abv, but this is a good starting place.
Valpolicella Classico is a light wine, normally fermented in steel, which tends to have an upfront nose with hints of cherry, as this very well-made example shows. From: On the Grapevine, Booterstown and Dalkey, Co Dublin; Liston's, Camden Street, Dublin 2; World Wide Wines, Waterford.
Domaine Bernard Baudry Les Granges, Chinon 2004, 12.5%, €13.99 This is the entry level cuvée of this well-respected domaine, again a wine of light, ripe redcurrant fruit. A delightful example of the joys of Cabernet Franc. On the Grapevince, Booterstown and Dalkey, Co Dublin; Bottle Shop, Drummartin Road, Dublin 14; Vanilla Grape, Kenmare, Co Kerry.
Pieropan Soave Classico 2005, 12%, €17.99 Forget the Soave you think you know and open your heart to this lovely, measured wine of bracing green fruit and crisp acidity. Great with food, or on its own. From: Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2; Bailys, Howth, Co Dublin; Donnybrook Fair, Dublin 4; Hole in the Wall, Phoenix Park, Dublin 7; McHughs, Kilbarrack and Malahide Road, Dublin 5; Michael's Wines, Stillorgan, Co Dublin; Red Island Wines, Skerries, Co Dublin.