Get Declassified!

Get Declassified!

Declassified.

The folks at From Vineyards Direct (FVYD) always bring a strong line-up to their pre-Christmas party in Cork and this week’s selection at the Crawford Art Gallery was no exception, with some terrific wines, mainly from Europe, to taste.

The highlight of the evening, for me, was the selection of declassified wines on view. Declassified wines are the excess production from famous château, somewhere between the Grand Vins and the second wine.

Left to right: Paul Kiernan, Michael Logan with FVYD's Stuart Smith.
The guy at the rear is not Usain Bolt.

With FDYD, you buy by the case but it can be a mixed case and a mixed case of these beauties comes in at €300. For that, you get Pessac-Leognan (2), Graves Blanc (2), Saint-Emilion (2), St Julien (2), Pauillac (2), Margaux (1) and Haut-Charmes (1). Tasted the Pessac and the Pauillac at the Crawford and they are very good indeed. Check the site for other mixed cases.

France was represented very strongly at the tasting and another one that I thought excellent was the Chateauneuf du Pape, Dom de St Paul 2008. Rich and spicy and quite a complete wine at this stage even though they say it will age well. Good value either way.

If you like your reds really really dry then the Chateau de Trillol 2008, Corbieres Cucugnan, is for you. This Languedoc comes with good fruit and a spicy finish and it’s a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan.

For something smoother and at a very reasonable price you might fancy a red from Bergerac, Bordeaux's under-rated next door neighbour. The organic Château de La Jaubertie 2009 is a smooth and medium bodied (Merlot 60%) with lots of fruit.

An Italian corner.

Not too much from Spain but did enjoy a well made reasonably priced award winning Rioja. The Lacrimus Crianza 2008 starts promisingly and delivers all along the way to a long spicy finish.

Not that many whites on show by comparison. I can rarely pass the Burgundy table and this was no exception. It featured Macon Lugny Les Beaubery 2010, St Veran Merloix 2009 Pierre Janny and the Rully 1er Cru Les Gresigny 2010 J-F Protheau.

All three were very much to my liking with the Premier Cru the standout as you might expect.

So thanks to FVYD (and Stuart and his team) for the opportunity to taste some of their excellent range. Think I may be spending some time on the site.