Grape Spy: Jean Smullen
The Dark Horse wine range from California are now widely available here. Look out for their range of grape varieties including Malbec, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.
2019 Dark Horse Chardonnay €12
Make sure you try this award-winning Chardonnay, a Gold Medal winner at the 2021 edition of Mundus Vini and with a credible 89 points from Wine Enthusiast. It is currently on offer at €10 in Dunnes and Tesco in the run up to Christmas.
A classic Californian Chardonnay with lovely buttery aromas and an added hint of vanilla. Enjoy those ripe tropical fruit flavours and the surprisingly fresh acidity when you taste it. Serve this with diced chicken breast cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce.
2019 Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon €12
Cabernet Sauvignon is a late ripening thick-skinned grape, which means it tends to have a lot of tannin. When grown in Lodi a warmer part of California, as this one is, you get lots of ripe fruit as well. Aged in oak, this wine has a firm tannin, lots of spice and dark jammy fruit flavours.
The perfect wine to enjoy with a slow cooked Beef in Guinness stew. Available nationwide.
See jeansmullen.com
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