As I write, the first snow of the season gracefully lands on our office’s windows. Weather forecasts promise more frozen flakes for the rest of the weekend and as the Friday feeling slowly takes over, we look forward to sharing a bottle of wine that pairs with the wintry weekend ahead.
Below, three big red wines for the weekend…
Chateau la Claymore AOC Lussac St. Emilion
13.5% ABV
€19.95 (on offer from €29.95) – Available at O’Briens Wine
A complex and generous Bordeaux. Pronounced aromas of perfectly ripe black cherries, blackberries and plums combine with a rich, chocolatey character, think toasted cocoa nibs and roasted coffee beans. Licorice and sweet spice join the parade for a full bodied wine made mostly from Merlot grapes.
With its velvety texture, moderate tannins and pleasant finish, it really deserves to be sipped slowly.
Al Limite Chianti Classico 2014
13.5% ABV
€22 – Available at Little Italy
This deep and concentrated Italian offers a fine taste of 100% Sangiovese grapes that feel vibrant and balanced. Lean and silky, it wraps your palate and teases it with its sour cherry-like acidity and juicy flavours of cranberries along with a more delicate floral note.
A mineral, chalky, adds to its complexity as well as a moderate toastiness, earned after 18 months in oak. The perfect glass to accompany a cheese and meat board when entertaining at home!
Áster Crianza 2013
14.5% ABV
€22.99 – Available at Wines on the Green
In this powerful Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo goes by the local pseudonym Tinta de País and embraces its darker side. The vineyard’s high altitude contributes to help the grapes retain freshness even when quite ripe, and 22 months ageing in French oak provides the wine with an intense character and bold tannins.
Blackberries, clove, licorice and dark chocolate make it ideal to enjoy while waiting for chestnuts roasting on an open fire (change the chestnuts for beef and an the open fire for a slow cooker and enjoy).
Gabriela’s passion for writing is only matched by her love for food and wine. Journalist, confectioner and sommelier, she fell in love with Ireland years ago and moved from Venezuela to Dublin in 2014.
Since then, she has written about and worked in the local food scene, and she’s determined to discover and share the different traditions, flavours and places that have led Irish food and drink to fascinate her.
Gabriela Guédez Gabriela Guédez