Critics' Choice: The Allotment wines featured in the news
Many of our wines have featured in the news media over the last few weeks. Here's what we managed to spot. Needless to say, although here I am saying it, we're chuffed.
Independent.ie
Raise a glass to groovy ‘first-growth’ Grüner Veltliner and friends, Sat 29 Jul 2023, Aoife Carrigy in the Independent. From her article,
As a grape name, Grüner Veltliner can be a mouthful to master. (It’s pronounced Groo-ner Velt-LEE-ner, like its nickname of GrooVee.) However, we’re increasingly au fait with Austria’s most distinctive, widely grown and fashionable grape, thanks to its versatility, food-friendliness and potential for greatness in the right hands and terroir.
And she covers the Schloß Gobelsburg, "Renner", Grüner Veltliner and also the amazing Zillinger Horizont.
Irish Times
In his Irish Times wine column, John captures the Zillinger Neuland Grüner Veltliner perfectly.
An explosion of opulent exotic fruits and flavours; mouth-watering peaches and pineapples, lime zest and spice, with a steely backbone and amazing length.
The Irish Examiner
In his article on Friday, 21st of July, Leslie Williams covered quite a few of our Grüner Veltliners.
Domaine Wachau Grüner Veltliner.
From the iconic Wachau, perhaps GV’s spiritual home. This is clean and precise with pepper and ripe apple aromas, tart apple freshness with some tropical notes on the mid-palate and a dry saline finish.
Domaene Gobelsburg Kamptal Grüner Veltliner
This estate dates back to 1171 and is considered one of Austria’s best producers. This has floral, tropical aromas mixed with dried lime and pepper - textured and ripe on the palate with stone fruits tinged with lemon zest and a dry tangy finish. Try with Asian noodle dishes or shellfish.
Business Post
Cathal McBride writes about the in his Business Post article, Cathal McBride on Bringing modern primitivo to heel.
For Negroamaro, the Vigneti del Salento ‘I Muri’ Negroamaro 2021 is a fine example. Lavish fruit presents a generous mouthfeel, along with that touch of bitterness and pepper spice characteristic of this grape. It leads into a savoury finish with tingling tannins and would be an ideal pairing for pizza and pasta.
The Irish Sun
In his Sun column on the 5th of August, Matthew Nugent posts about two of our super wines, one red, one white.
SMOOTH, medium-bodied, and elegant red blend of five varieties, overseen by Luis Duarte, one of Portugal's most accomplished winemakers. The vineyards are in Alentejo, currently Portugal’s most exciting regions. Aged for nine months in French oak barrels, it has a deep plum colour in the glass, with ripe dark fruit aromas.The palate has a soft tannin structure and plenty of plum and strawberry flavours which lingers nicely. Enjoy with: Roast duck.
FRESH and zippy dry Riesling from the Mosel region in Germany. A light yellow in colour with alluring aromas of citrus, minerals, a hint of apricot, and that characteristic petroleum note. The palate is fresh, with a wonderful streak of acidity, a fruit basket of apple, pear, peach, and citrus fruit, balanced with high acidity. Enjoy with: Poached Salmon.
Then, on the previous week, Matthew covered Wynn's of Coonawarra, Australia, on the back of what looked like an amazing tasting he attended.
The wines were from the south Australia estate, Wynns of Coonawarra, regarded as one of top vineyards Down Under for decades.
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay
SMALL production – but here small definitely means beautiful! Bright lemon in the glass, with citrus notes on the nose. Lovely freshness, crispness, and balance, on a palate that has some complexity. Hints of green apple and tropical flavours, with a wisp of oak. Lovely length and finish. Enjoy with: Lemon chicken.
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz
THIS ‘entry-level’ Shiraz is a beauty. A deep red colour, and with aromas of violets, blueberry, and blackcurrant.This soft and smooth Aussie Shiraz has great purity, is nicely structured, with sleek tannins, a note of toasted oak, black pepper, and lashings of ripe black fruit flavours. Again, a lovely lingering finish. Enjoy with: Rare Porterhouse steak and all the trimmings.