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Media Coverage 2004

Wine reviews & media excerpts	source
Bottle of the Week - Mary Dowey Paul Zinck Pinto Blanc Prestige, Alsace 2002 This is such a delicious wine that I’d be prepared to drive miles to find it. A real dazzler, mixing ripe apple and honey tones with fantastic lemon freshness. Even the most exhausted palate will respond. From: The Wicklow Wine Company	The Irish Times 18th December 2004
Cold Turkey Mary Dowey suggest[s] palate revivers for post-Christmas fatigue Here are a few ideas: Pacifying Port Always good to have to hand, either to round off a meal or for late-night armchair indulgence. Niepoort LBV 1999 Try this luscious, heady late-bottle vintage from acclaimed producer Niepoort with a few really good chocolates. Mmmm! From: The Wicklow Wine Company	The Irish Times 18th December 2004
Dear Santa – Mary Dowey hangs up her stocking and hopes to feast her eyes on Christmas morning Under €30 George Breuer Terra Montosa Rheingau Riesling 2002 Now that respect for good German Riesling is rising, why not seize on a beauty like this? Smooth textured and fantastically vibrant on the palate, it combines luscious honey tones with rapier-like acidity in a perfectly poised and impressively long finish. From Wicklow Wine Co.	Food & Wine Magazine December 2004
John Wilson, editor of the 2005 edition of The Wine Guide, gives a preview of the award-winning wines Best Value White Wine of the Year Cuvée Orelie 2003, Les Vigneron Ardechois, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l’Ardeche A wine of the week back in may this year, this is a lovely light aromatic wine, with crisp, fresh apple fruits. The perfect wine to keep in your fridge over Christmas. Call 0404 66767 for details of stockists.	The Sunday Tribune 5th December 2004
Message in a bottle - Mary Dowey Clinking bottles make welcome gifts – just choose carefully No doubt about it, bottles make great presents – instantly consumable, and it doesn’t matter about duplication. All you have to do is decide whether the recipient is fairly mainstream in drinking tastes or a bit offbeat, then match your budget to the possibilities below: Quirky Fabulous White Pieropan Soave Classico 2003 Dare to give a bottle that proves how sensational Soave can be. With layers of intense flavour and a refreshing, citrussy lift making for perfect balance, this is pure hedonism. From Wicklow Wine Co. Clos de Saint Yves Savennières, Domaine des Baumard 2000 This sort of secret wine buffs love to keep to themselves; the Loire appellation of Savennières is so tiny that there isn’t that much of its prized output to go round. This fabulous example – oozing ripe, honeyed fruit, but it dances across the tongue, ending up bone dry. From Wicklow Wine Co. Red Chateau Viella Madiran Tradition, Alain Bortolussi 2001 Mandarin in south-west France is another little region that provides a welcome alternatiove to mainstream reds – especially in winter. This is a comfort blanket of a wine, warm and enveloping, with fantastic raisiny richness. A great buy at the price. From Wicklow Wine Co. Classically Classy White Georg Breur Terra Montosa Rheingau Riesling 2002 Topnotch German Riesling has clung on to its status as a great classic, and deservedly so. Buy two bottles of this remarkably luscious, vibrant modern version – one for a very good friend and one for your self. From Wicklow Wine Co.	The Irish Times 4th December 2004
Go on a worthwhile hunt for Duoro Wines Tomás Clancy Includes a “selection of the most interesting young Duoro available. They may be a little harder to find, but are certainly worth the effort.” http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/10/31/story307514150.asp	The Sunday Business Post 31st October 2004
Swashbuckling Douro Boys raise storm outside port Tomás Clancy http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/10/24/story187198644.asp	The Sunday Business Post 24th October 2004
Riesling high Don’t miss out says John Wilson It’s time to discover what the rest of Europe has known for years – German Riesling is great. Dr von Bassermann-Jordan Riesling Trocken 2002 Pfalz (12%) A complex, delicious, clean palate of green fruits with mouth-watering freshness and a crisp, dry finish. It weighs in at a mere 12% alcohol, but this is a lovely fruity mouthful of wine. Where else but Germany would you find a wine from one fo the great names at under €15?	The Sunday Tribune 25th July 2004
20 Under €20 - Mary Dowey Bargains are bargains but sometimes it’s nice to splash out just a little Rosé Redoma Douro Rosé, Niepoort 2001 From leading port producer Dirk Niepoort, this has even more body, even more thrust, taking it somewhere close to red wine in style. Don’t be concerned that it’s a few years old when most rosé is drunk young: with a touch of oak, this one is built to last. From Wicklow Wine Co. Bottle of the Week D’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale-Coonawara 2000/1 This is the kind of wine I love serving to people who complain that Australian reds are big fat fruit bombs with no finesse, in a brown paper bag, if possible –just to stump them. It’s very suave, very subtle, with hints of mint, leather and tobacco which linger intriguingly. From Wicklow Wine Co.	The Irish Times 24th July 2004
Best Summer Quaffers under €10.99 It’s flip-flop weather at last and things are slowing down as people unwind for summer, so time to get out the tumblers says Mary Dowey and guzzle some unfussy but seriously good wine… White Cuvee Orélie, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l’Ardeche 2003 This is what I regard as a deckchair special – a cool, summery white wine for a warm day. It’s a fresh fruit salad of flavours – pineapple, melon, grapes (odd how few wines actually taste of grapes) – lifted by crisp, citrussy acidity. A steal at the price. From Wicklow Wine Co.	Food & Wine Magazine July / August 2004
Bottles for the barbeque - Whether full throttle for red meat or more subtle for fish and veg, John Wilson uncorks the best of the bunch Rosé Wines Full-bodied rosés can also go well with barbecues. The Portuguese Niepoort Redoma Rosé 2002 (Wicklow Wines 0404 66767) is smooth and well rounded, with concentrated red fruits and a long, dry finish. Possibly a bit too big for drinking by itself, it would be great with fish or vegetarian dishes.	The Sunday Tribune 13th June 2004
Here comes summer… Only one red makes the cut, as John Wilson opts for a fun, fresh and fruity Top 20. Not forgetting fizz, of course Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Spatlese 2002, €16.90 Don’t be put off by the name, just think about relaxing in the garden on a sunny day with a chilled glass of this wonderful wine. The floral nose, balance of delicate grapefruit and peach fruit, light alcohol and medium-dry finish were made for just such occasions. Wicklow Wine, Co Wicklow Sipp Mack Pinot Blanc, Alsace, 2002 €11.95 Alsace produces some of the very best whites, and this is one of my favourite all-purpose wines. It can be drunk by itself or with a wide variety of foods, so it’s perfect with canapés. Lovely fresh apple fruits, with a tropical touch, and a nice streak of zesty, citrus peel. Wicklow Wine Quinta do Ameal Vinho Verde Portugal 2002 €15.95 Vinho Verde means green wine, referring to the verdant vineyards of northern Portugal. Some versions can be a bit sweet and have a nasty chemical edge; this one has more than a touch of class. It kicks in at 11% alcohol, with stunningly fresh clean pear fruits, backed up with lemon zest and a slight fizz. Wicklow Wine, Co Wicklow	The Sunday Tribune 13th June 2004
Wine Ronan Farren When we think of Portuguese wine, port comes easily to mind, the unique, fortified red and tawny wines from the terraced slopes of the Douro valley. And, perhaps, vinho verde (literally green wine), the young and fresh summer whites. In fact, virtually every part of Portugal has vineyards, and the quality has shot up in recent years so it’s surprising that the market share here for the varied and usually inexpensive products of that lovely country is still less than two per cent. A recent tasting at the Portuguese Embassy in Dublin reminded us of the richness and individuality of the reds, and demonstrated how the once heavy and dull whites had been transfored into serious contenders in a competitive market. First some of the whites. From Alentejo in the south, Esporao Reserva 2001 is a bold and distinctive food wine, a bit dear by Portuguese standards (€15.50) but impressive (…Wicklow Wine Co., Wicklow Town). …One of the best whites I tasted was Redoma Branco, from Douro, which is imported by the Wicklow Wine Co, and is on the shelves of many of the more classy off-licences at €17.99. This comes across as a wine of some distinction, with ripe, succulent fruit and a good structure. On to the reds. Luis Pato is something of a legend in the lovely (and non-touristy) Bairrada region and his 1998, simply called Luis Pato, is a wine of refinement and elegance, one which will come across more successfully accompanied by food (…Wicklow Wine Co €14.50)…	The Sunday Independent 6th June 2004
First Dinner Party of Summer The weather’s getting warmer and Mary Dowey, for one, is set to celebrate! Here she lists some top-notch light whites, rapturous reds and perfect pink rosés to wow your guests with… White Sipp Mack Riesling Tradition, Alsace 2001 At my recent intensive wine course at Ballymaloe House, this was voted the star wine of the entire weekend – even by Riesling sceptics. It’s rich and honeyed, with luscious orange and apricot tones lifted by refreshing acidity and a long, dry finish. From Wicklow Wine Co. Rosé Redoma Douro Rosé, Niepoort 2001 There are pale, blushing pinks and confidently crimson rosés with as much chutzpah as any red wine. This is one of the latter. From esteemed port producer Dirk Niepoort, it’s a deliciously spicy, complex wine which has seen a bit of oak. A Portuguese newcomer well worth seeking out for main courses. From Wicklow Wine Co.	Food & Wine Magazine May 2004
Blanc check French winemakers are producing some very decent white wines at great prices. John Wilson shares his favourites Cuvée Orelie 2003 Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l’Ardèche€7.95 - €8.95 The Wilson house white, and a great favourite of herself outdoors. This is the sort of wine you dream about sipping on the terrace of a French bistro. Light, floral, fresh and fruity, with a fine dry finish – the perfect all-purpose white. Stockists: The Wicklow Wine Co	The Sunday Tribune 23rd May 2004
Portuguese wines take their place in the sun Tomás Clancy …Here are some of the best and brightest Portuguese wines being imported by an every-expanding set of Irish wine merchants. White Esporao Reserva 2001, €15 Wicklow Wine Company A stunning, piercingly fresh rush of light white fruit, with touches of honeyed sweetness at mid-palate and a clean, perky finish. Caso do Lago 2001, €11, Wicklow Wine Company, Wicklow This is a jewel from the rising Ribatejo region. This is a beautifully glossy wine, with a rich perfume of strawberry and blackberry brambles. The wash is intense, ripe and luscious. The weight of fruit is palpable. Touches of crushed berries, plum and black coffee abound, yet the mid-palate and finish are essentially soft. An alluring, well sourced and well priced wine. http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/05/09/story710151220.asp	The Sunday Business Post 9th May 2004
Whites with Attitude Why drink wishy-washy whites when there are plenty with personality, flavour and allure. Go seek out, says Mary Dowey, listing a few of her favourites… Domaine Saint-Denis Macon Chardonnay, Hubert Laferrere 2000 The trend towards riper grapes may have gone too far in some corners of the globe but it has worked wonders in Macon, whose best wines are now among Burgandy’s biggest charmers. This one included: fabulous, sunkissed fruit glides into a vibrant finish. From Wicklow Wine Co.	Food & Wine Magazine April 2004
Wines of the Week John Wilson Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spatless Trocken Weingut Richter 2003 Try saying that after a few glasses. Some of the most exciting I tasted all of last year were from Richter, a top producer in the Mosel valley. This Trocken meets all of the Friday night criteria perfectly. Low in alcohol (11%), but full of mouth-watering, gently honeyed fruit, cut through with zingy, zesty citrus acidity, and a mineral element. A delight to drink on its own, with fish, or in the garden on a hot summer’s day. Available From The Wicklow Wine Company.	The Sunday Tribune 21st March 2004
Dinner Party Posh for under €13 a bottle Mary Dowey Chateau Court-Les-Muts Cotes de Bergerac 2000 Why buy so-so Bordeaux when you can have a truly classy, alluring red for the same price from the region right next door? You’ll enjoy the velvet texture of this well-made Bergerac, and the savoury, mineral streak that runs beneath voluptuous top notes of cassis, chocolate and coffee. From Wicklow Wine Co.	Food and Wine Magazine March 2004
Bottles of the Week Mary Dowey Chateau Court-Les Muts Cotes de Bergerac 2000 Bergerac is another region worth keeping an eye on – close to Bordeaux and growing the same grapes but with lower prices. This is a smart, modern wine – half Merlot blended with the two Cabernets and a drop of Malbec. Its fleshy texture and luscious flavours of cassis, coffee and chocolate will strike you first – but there’s mineral firmness in behind, and an almost salty touch adds juicy appeal to the finish. From Wicklow Wine Co.	The Irish Times 18th February 2004
Classiest Classics - There is something about the time of year that makes us hanker for tradition. With this in mind, Mary Dowey picks 10 of the best classics to toast the season… White Max. Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spatlese halbtrocken, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2001 My favourite from this entire line-up – the sort of thing that makes life better in a single mouthful. Good German Riesling takes its place among the world’s most thrilling wines – especially in the hands of an outstanding family producer, in a superb year like 2001. This mixes intense, honeyed tones with penetrating freshness. The ultimate Christmas aperitif or late-night wine. From Wicklow Wine Co.	Food & Wine Magazine January 2004
Winners alright Mary Dowey picks her favourite wines of 2003 From the Top 10 €10-€20 Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spatles halbtrocken, Mose-Saar-Ruwer 2001 Spectacular example of lively, penetrating German Riesling from a Mosel genius. From: The Wicklow Wine Co	The Irish Times 3rd January 2004

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