Eclectic Wines and Cheeses
Rodney Shaw
Although generally we try to 'buy on apples and sell on cheese', it makes a nice change to match some fine wines with excellent cheeses and just enjoy.
1. Chateau Bouyot, Sauternes,
France, 2001 
Beautiful nose, with a fine,
neat, not too syrupy feel. Excellently balanced by its acid content.
Absolutely gorgeous, and at a great price. We had it with Roquefort;
the combination was exquisite.
Eno, Monkstown €19.99
2. Kim Crawford Sauvignon
Blanc, Marlborough, NZ, 2004
Pale and interesting.
Incredibly big nose of freshly mown grass and gooseberries; some melon.
Fresh, zingy, hint of caramel.
The cheese was Gortnamona
Goats, which I found a bit too chalky and which deadened the wine.
Eno, Monkstown
€15.45
3. Jean-Marc Brocard, Chablis
Grand Cru Bougros, 2001
Nice yellow. Smokey,
bit of burnt rubber and oak initially - disappeared in the glass.
(No oak!) Flinty, lovely fruit, acidity, caramel at end. 13%.
Will keep. Shame about the price. Went very well with the
Carrickbyrne St. Killian
€29.95 special offer;
€45
4. Hugel Gewurtztraminer,
Alsace, France, 2002
Beautiful, rich, spicy nose.
China tea on the palate. Missing a little acidity. Went
beautifully with the Smoked Gubbeen
€15 - 16
5. Waipara Springs,
reserve Pinot Noir, North Canterbury, NZ 2002
Pale garnet, Unfiltered,
fruity, strawberries & cream. Very good but a bit dear. 14%.
Went well with the Brie
€22.75
6. Librandi, Ciro DOC,
Duca San Felice Reserva, Calabria, Italy, 1999
Pale red, bit closed, feels a
bit young (at six years old!). Good acid but lacks concentration.
Not great (and I usually love it). Made with Gaglioppo; offered to
champions in ancient Rome. 13.5%. Lovely, but not a great
match for the Milleens. Great price, though. Try a different
year.
€12.99
7. Beaulieu Vineyard,
Georges de Latour Private Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley,
California, 1998
()
Dark, dark red. Very
'fruit pastilles'. Tooth-coating tannins, concentrated, jammy.
Very good balance. Still very young. 13.5% Stunningly good
match for the Gouda. Would like to try it again in a year or so.
€27.50
8. Majella Shiraz,
Coonawarra, South Australia, 2001
Lovely deep red with a soft,
fruity nose. Bursts in nthe mouth, zing, a hint of leather, good spicy
finish, clean, lovely. 13.5 % Went quite well with a Red Hot
Dutch Edam.
€21.99
9. Vinedos Organicos
Emiliana, Coyam, Central Valley, Chile, 2002
Dark, murky red.
Beautiful nose. Very fruity, meaty, good acidity. Drinks now;
keep it a while. 14.5% alc. Carmenere, Merlt, Syrah, Cab Sauv,
Mourvedre. Went well with Gubbeen.
€14.99
10. Gerard Bertrand,
Rivesaltes, Vin Doux Naturel, France, 1974
Almost brown, very pale.
Smells of port at a distance. Sweet but with great acidity. Prune
juice flavour. 15.5% Very good! Didn't really go with
the Stilton, though.
€19.99