TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME!

TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME 

Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, McLaren Vale, 14% ABV, €15.99 RRP, ****

Just in time for Valentine’s - a tall, dark and handsome visitor from South Australia.

Colour is dark red and the aroma is of dark fruits and a hint of mint. Rich dark fruits on the palate, it is a smooth well balanced wine where the tannins play their role with a pleasant ease, all ending in an equally pleasant lingering finish.

Couldn’t ask for anything more from this highly rated winery. The wine itself doesn't do too badly either and picked up 90 points from Wine Spectator. It is rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and has been aged for 18 months in both French and America oak.

In the past few months I have tasted other products of Kangarilla Road and have been very happy with them. So if you like this one why not try these:

Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2008, 14.5%, €15.99, McLaren Vale (Aus.)

Kangarilla Road Charlie’s Blend Shiraz Cabernet 2008, 14%, €11.99, McLaren Vale (Aus.)

Kangarilla Road Leaf Series Shiraz (15.99) or the 2Up Shiraz (11.99).

Distributed by Wine Alliance and available in Off Licences at independents nationwide.

THURSDAY IN MAHON

Hens on point of lay for sale in Mahon

MAHON POINT FARMERS MARKET

All calm at Mahon Point Farmers Market yesterday after the

THE WEEKEND CATCH

English Market

A bumper Weekend Catch, fresh from the Net.

THE WEEKEND CATCH

Restaurant Wine & Food Scene

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market_lane Market Lane 

Seasonal special jack mac black pudding with

CATCH 'EM YOUNG

Kerpen

CATCH THEM YOUNG   

Kerpen 2009 Riesling Blauschiefer Trocken, 12.5%, Karwig Wines (€14.05) ****

On a Christmas visit to Carrigaline I picked up this

WEXFORD DOUBLE

Kilmore Quay gull is buying Irish

FOCUS ON BUYING LOCAL

You really need your thinking cap on when

HOW LOCAL DO YOU GO?

TIPP DOUBLE FOR THIS CORKMAN!

Just been reading the always entertaining and

THE RISING TIDE

THE RISING TIDE

Enjoyed a terrific meal at Glounthaune’s Rising Tide Brasserie on Friday night. Quality local produce featured strongly across

SPANISH RIESLING!

 WINE STORE SHOUTS OUT FOR A SPANISH RIESLING 

Some big names in the wine game are coming out

GRAND CRU SPECIAL

GRAND CRU SPECIAL 

Looking for something for a special occasion? Well, here is something From Vineyards Direct  for an occasion that is on the horizon or up to maybe twenty years away.

Chateau Teyssier Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2008 
Double Magnums :  "Abundant quantities of sweet black fruits, a natural, lush texture, ripe tannin, and a heady finish."  (Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate)

With aging potential of up to twenty

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This Casanova is ready for love!

A bumper Weekend Catch, fresh from the Net. 

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Restaurant Wine & Food Scene

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Augustine's Restaurant

Wondering where to go for Valentine's - Join us at Augustine's Restaurant for something truly special... Book now on 021.4279375

Hartys Cloyne From Sunday 6th - Friday 25th February in association with Irish Restaurant Awards 2011 & Sunday Independant Life Magazine, 20% off customers food bill - Vouchers availabe from Sunday Independant Life Magazine - Click on

CAFE GUSTO

CAFE GUSTO

Is Cafe Gusto  in Washington Street in a class of its own when it comes to cafes in Cork? Coffee and scones (and more) in the morning, followed by

MARMALADE. If I can make it, anyone can!

EASY MARMALADE  

Last week, on a whim, bought some Seville Oranges at

CAN YOU MAKE IT TO HEAD CHEF?

International superchef Conrad Gallagher offers 8 kitchen hopefuls the chance of

Les Gourmandises

Les Gourmandises 

Delighted with my most recent visit to Les Gourmandises . Fine French Dining is printed on their card and it is no empty motto. They live up to it. Making your way through the courses here is an exercise in delicacy.

If you find yourself in

SAMBA ON A COLD MONDAY MORNING

COFFEE: BRAZILIAN BRUZZI 

Now it’s official: I am a

FLESH ON SUNDAYS

Ian from An Crúibín has been in touch:

'The Sunday Munch returns

ARDSALLAGH GOATS CHEESE CRANBERRY ROULADE

GOATS CHEESE ROULADE 

Had been on the lookout for Ardsallagh’s Goats Cheese Cranberry Roulade and spotted it in On the Pigs Back on a run through the English Market on Friday. 


Picked up some

SWEET, CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

SWEET, CHEAP AND CHEERFUL 

Glad I got into sweet wines. Have enjoyed a few over the Christmas and still the sweets go on, the latest a Moscatel from Valencia, the “primary source of sweet budget wines”, according to Mr Hugh Johnson.

From grapes grown on

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Florentine Steak

A bumper Weekend Catch, fresh from the Net. 

THE WEEKEND CATCH

Restaurant Wine & Food Scene

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RT @CometoCork The French equivalent of the Lonely Planet guide has showered praise on Cork restaurants http://ht.ly/3D6bG via @corkindo

Electric We are

A WINNER FROM KARWIG

ONE TO BUY. AGAIN    

The late Renato Ratti has been credited, at least in Vino Italiano, with being “The Father of Modern Barolo”. He took that wine by the scruff of the neck in 60s and his more accessible style became a hit.

The production of classic affordable Piedmont wines goes on, now under the direction of Pierro Ratti. “..the wines keep getting better” according to Vino Italiano.

Must say I didn’t know much about this producer and their wines until I got a bottle in the Carrigaline premises of Joe Karwig. I’m glad that I did. This was a Barbera d'Alba. The Barbera is the grape variety and the Torriglione on the bottle refers to the vineyards where it is grown.

The colour is an intense Cardinal Red. Remember that