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The Oscar winners were announced this week and they were all pretty predictable
choices, and, although Helen Mirren's a fine actress I can't see myself paying
money to watch a film about the Queen. No, far more interesting for wine lovers
is who is the king of the off-licences? Well today (2/3/07), we'll taste three
wines from Ireland's finest, McHugh's
in Kilbarrack Road, D5, recently voted 'Off-Licence of the Year' and discuss the
awards on the Moncreiff show
A
few weeks ago the winners of the Diageo / Noffla Off-Licence of the Year awards
were announced. As a previous judge I know how high standards are and how
fiercely contested it is, yet McHugh's have just won it for the second year in a
row, which is a fantastic achievement. It's a worthy winner with a great
selection of wines and beers plus, very importantly, knowledgeable and friendly
staff.
I
asked them to pick out three examples of the kind of interesting and affordable
wine that they offer that helped wine them their award.
First
up is Iona Sauvignon Blanc 2005, €15.99, which Cathal McHugh pointed out to me
a few weeks ago at, Searsons, the Importer's annual tasting, and I was bowled
over. Its a really fabulous example of this variety and frankly one of the
world's best, not just one of South Africa's.
Next
is another white, dArenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne, made by the
irrepressible Chester Osborne at d'Arenberg. It’s a fuller flavoured, more
flamboyant style of wine and priced at €13.95.
Finally
there'll be a red to try called Ch. Maris, a biodynamically farmed vineyard in
Minervois priced at €12.95 which is made from a blend dominated by syrah.
FYI,
the other award winners were:
The 2007
four regional awards were presented to Dicey's Bottle Store , Ballyshannon ,
Co Donegal (Connaught / Ulster), World Wide Wines, Waterford
(Munster), Holland’s Fine Wines, Bray, Co Wicklow (Leinster)
and Gibney’s, Malahide, Co Dublin (Dublin).
Three
Specialist awards were also presented to Deveney’s Off-Licence, Dundrum,
Dublin 16 (Specialist Winner, Spirits); McHugh's Off Licence, Malahide
Road, Dublin (Specialist Winner, Beer); Jus De Vine, Portmarnock,
Co Dublin (Specialist Winner, Wines).
The 2007
award for the “Best First-time Entrant” went to O’Donovan’s Off-Licence
in Market Square, Mallow, Co Cork.
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