Wine with Leslie: Say cheers to mum with these delicious wines

These would make great gifts for Mother's Day on Sunday

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025 - 02:00

Springtime is all about birth and renewal, so it is entirely fitting that we celebrate women at this time of year with St Brigid’s Day, International Women’s Day and of course Mothering Sunday, which is on Sunday. If you did forget, I have a couple of suggestions that will also work for birthdays and other reasons to celebrate.

The first suggestion is the ATF Wine Club from the team at allthefood.ie who have linked up with Lilith Wines in Stoneybatter. Four bottles of restaurant quality wine are delivered to the door for €100 per month including delivery.

There have been a few deliveries so far and all but three of the wines have appeared on this page at some point. The focus is on left-of-centre wines from regions like the Jura, Beaujolais and the Rhône, most likely organic and with the occasional pet-nat, natural or skin contact wine included (but nothing too funky). What I like most is how the selections should broaden the mind as much as they should excite the palate. More details at allthefood.ie.

My second suggestion is a little more conventional: Brown Thomas and Möet will personalise a Möet & Chandon Brut Impérial for you by printing whatever message you wish on the gift tin which I reckon can be reused to hold anything from spaghetti to kitchen utensils. The NV costs €69 and the Rosé Impérial (which would be my choice) costs €79.

Suggestions this week include my favourite budget Spanish fizz, a Bordeaux from Lidl who have new wines in store for spring and a very reliable Graves making its debut. Bordeaux is seen as a bloke’s wine far too often; this is wrong as many of the best Bordeaux writers (e.g. Jane Anson) and many of the best winemakers and owners are women. Happy Mother’s Day.

Albet i Noya ‘Petit Albet’ Classic Brut, Penédès, Spain €28.99

This is always in my top five list for fizz under €50, never mind under €30. Organic, low dosage (5g) and from a great producer.

Aged on lees for 15 months with white fruit aromas, touches of brioche mixed and creamy lemon, textured on the palate with lemon barley sweet notes and brimming with character.

Organico; Quay Co-Op; Little Green Grocer; Mortons Galway; Vintry; Bubble Brothers

Chateau Pey de Pont, Cru Bourgeois, Médoc 2019, Bordeaux €12.99

I recommended the 2012 Pey de Pont in 2016 and my note on this is even better (unsurprising given that 2019 was a significantly finer vintage).

Ripe plum and blackberry fruit with a touch of chocolate, depth and verve with some crunchy tannins imply ageing potential but also drinking well right now - decant if possible.

Also recommended is Ch. de Landiras 2021 at €10.99.

Lidl

Château Trébiac 2019, Graves, Bordeaux €19.95

The Pessac Léognan sub- region of Graves gets all the attention but plain old Graves is always worth exploring.

This has 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet so they are likely going for a lusher style and they have succeeded - ripe black fruits with a hint of leaf and cedar, ripe and plummy, supple and layered with weight balanced by freshness. Great with lamb or beef but also on its own.

JJ O’Driscolls; O’Donovans; Vintry; TheAllotment.ie

Beer of the week: Dungarvan Turning Tide Lemon Wheat Beer, 4.7% ABV, 500ml €4.95

Dungarvan changed ownership recently but founder Cormac O’Dwyer is back as head brewer so all is right with the world — catch them at the Waterford Food Festival April 25-27.

Turning Tide’s spring seasonal wheat beer is back in shops — citrus and spicy banana aromas, refreshing and crisp with proper hop bitterness and a noticeable bitter lemon zing. Delicious.

No. 21; Matsons; Worldwide Wines; SuperValu Dungarvan; Molloys

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