Gran Cuvée de la Vina William Fèvre Chardonnay 2007, 14%, €16 (Chile)Franco-Chilean in name and nature: this richly textured wine is full of pineapples and tropical fruit, but William Fèvre's decades of experience in Chablis show through in the steely backbone of acidity and the fine, layered finish. Mellow and delicious.
Stockists:White Aherne Fine Foods Wine, Dundalk; Nolan's, Kilcullen.
Lurton Pinot Gris 2008, 13.5%, €14.50 (Argentina)Something slightly different from Argentina – a fresh, smoothly textured Pinot Gris with peach/melon fruit and mellow acidity. Knocks spots off the average Pinot Grigio. Good with risottos or light chicken dishes. Stockists:Bin No 9, Clonskeagh; Donnybrook Fair; McCabe's, Mount Merrion Ave, Dublin; O'Donovan's, Cork; Sweeney's, Glasnevin; Thomas Deli, Foxrock; Wicklow Arms, Delgany; The Wine Centre, Kilkenny.
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Maipo Escudo Rojo 2004, 13.5%, €19.95 (Chile)Elegant, restrained style of wine, with subtle berry fruit touched with tobacco, mellow tannins and deft use of oak. Quite French in style, with elegance, excellent structure and an interesting, coffee-laced finish. Stockists:Clada Wines, Galway; Corkscrew, Chatham St, D2; Fahy's, Ballina; Food Room, Clontarf; Gibney's, Malahide; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; O'Birds, Navan; Shevlin's, Rathfarnham.
Clos de los Siete 2007, 14.5%, €16.79-€18.49 (Argentina)The sumptuous loganberry, mint and chocolate flavours are very New World, but the cedarwood and pencil shavings, firm tannins and subtle finish are reminiscent of Bordeaux. Velvety texture and long, chocolatey finish. Marvellous with steak. Stockists:O'Briens Off-licences; Oddbins.
Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Merlot 2005, 14.5%, €24.49 (Chile)Michel Rolland's love of a rounded, full-bodied style shines through with this inky, densely structured and flavour-packed wine. Cassis, milk chocolate, plummy fruit with hints of liquorice backed by quite grippy tannins make it an excellent wine for steak, game pie and roasts. Would benefit from decanting; it opens up beautifully after a few hours. Stockists:64 Wines, Glasthule; Comans, Rathgar; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; Londis, Malahide; O'Briens Off-licences; O'Donovan's, Cork.
- Pat Carroll is co-editor of The Best of Wine in Ireland 2008and part-time manager in Gibney's Off-Licence, Malahide. John Wilson returns next week.