I was delighted to be given a gift of this wine. The Katnook Estate is from the interesting region of Coonawarra which produces some really decent Australian red wines.

This 2004 vintage is perfect to drink on it’s own. Full of predominantly raspberry and plum flavours, it is also peppery and spicy with and smooth oaky and vanilla finish. High in alcohol (14% vol!) you’ll gulp this down wanting more.

Made primarily from old Carinena vines, this very drinkable red wine from Chile ticks a lot of boxes. 63% Carinena, 21% Merlot & the 16% Shiraz combination works well to provide a wine which is intensely ruby in colour yet complex with a lengthy finish. Medium tannins with red berry and cherry notes. Excellent to drink alone or with food.

One of my favourite tapas bars in Dublin is Salamanca, located opposite O’Neills bar on Suffolk street, D2. I have never been disappointed with the food there. The tapas are all very tasty, portions are generous and the service great.

Always full in the evenings for dinner service, it generally also gets a big after-pub crowd. They do a great lunch time trade also with very reasonably priced lunch specials.

You won’t be disappointed!

 

Never confident cooking fish, I needed help. Sensing my distress, my sister treated me to a day’s cooking at the Dunbrody Cookery School in Wexford as a birthday present. I signed up for the seafood course. We were lucky on the day to have chef Kevin Dundon run the classes. He demonstrated a number of dishes to us, from baking bread, preparing side dishes – basil pesto, semi dried tomatoes, balsamic reduction and onion marmalade and risotto. We prepared many fish courses – wild salmon teriyaki, steamed baked whole trout, seafood infusion, crock of mussels in thai cream sauce to name but a few. We got to cook and prepare our own lunch, a yummy Boulabaise. There were about 10 people in the class which was very manageable and allowed for good banter between everyone. Located in the fantastic setting of the Dunbrody Country House Hotel, next time I book, I’m definitely staying for the weekend!

Yummy, yummy. My favourite wine of the moment. Saintsbury Pinot Noir from Carneros California. Delicious, velvety red, full of raspberry, cherry and rich spicy flavours. The acidity balances this wine well. Finishes sweet and long, with light tannins.

Reasonably priced. Available through James Nicholson’s wines. 

http://www.jnwine.com/