Latest news with #BlackTower

The Irish Sun

Lidl's three-star €7.99 ‘super summer sipper' Rosé that's perfect for BBQs & SuperValu's €10 ‘fresh & zippy' white wine

JUNE is still a fortnight away, but the smell of charcoal burning has been wafting over neighbours' fences for some weeks now. Yes, the Advertisement 5 Matthew Nugent has shared his perfect BBQ tips Credit: Getty We take it that you have mastered the art of outdoor Let me introduce you to my BBQ golden rules (sort of). If you follow them, I can almost promise you a fun-filled and enjoyable event. Those not too expensive, light and fruity numbers are the way to go, and there are plenty of wines out there priced at under €10 that will be more than adequate. Even at this price point you will find some unusual grape varieties or blends. Advertisement READ MORE IN FABULOUS So, don't be afraid to go outside your comfort zone and include a few bottles of something a little different. Such an adventurous move will impress the more serious wine drinkers at your barbie. You could go a little further, spend a fraction more, and pick up a couple of bottles of natural or orange wines. These will certainly have your guests queueing up to try them. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Natural wines are made with as little intervention as possible and without the use of sulphites. Orange wines are actually whites that have been made using red wine fermentation processes. Jose Mourinho launches new side hustle alongside Fenerbahce job as John Terry vows to be first customer The wine remains in contact with the skins and develops a different taste profile, and an orange hue. Either of these exciting styles could well steal the show at your barbecue. Advertisement Do not be tempted to pour large measures. Remember, your average beer comes in at around 4.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) while a glass of wine will be an average 12-14 per cent ABV. TRYING NEW PAIRINGS So go easy on those pours - and don't use your best glassware. This is meant to be a fun event so there could well be a glass or two broken. Finally, it is a barbecue and meant to be fun. Traditional rules for pairing food and wine – reds with red meat and whites with fish - are fine but not absolute. Advertisement What makes pairing fun is trying new pairings. Go for it, and you will enjoy it more if you drink in moderation. FIRST CHOICE THE first wine I ever purchased in a Dublin restaurant was a bottle of Black Tower – almost half a century ago! The white choice was limited: Blue Nun, Le Piat d'Or or Black Tower. The sleek black bottle of the latter was always my first choice. So, I'm taking something of nostalgic walk back to 1975 this week and sipping from a new range of Black Tower wines, with a snazzy makeover – and perfect for For the moment their Fruity White, Sylvaner Pinot Grigio and Riesling wines are currently available at All are reasonably light on Domaine De La Chauvinière Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine 2022 (ABV 12%) 5 Currently €11.95 @ O'Briens Wine Grape: Melon-de-Bourgogne Advertisement THE Huchet Crafted from fruit gathered off old vines, the wine has a light lemon colour, and delivers citrus and ripe pear aromas. Time on the lees (spent yeast cells), adds weight to a crisp and zesty palate with good acidity, plenty of citrus notes, with a honeyed lift and saline finish. Enjoy with: Anything from the sea, particularly oysters. Advertisement Star rating: **** Sherwood Estate Pinot Noir 2022 (ABV 13.5%) 5 Currently €21.95 @ O'Briens Wine Grape: Pinot Noir Advertisement SILKY smooth Pinot from the Sherwood family's vineyards at Waipara Valley on A bright, clear pale garnet colour, it has heady floral and red berry (strawberry and raspberry) fruit aromas, with a light sprinkling of spice. The palate is supple with softened tannins and lashings of raspberry and plum fruit. The lingering finish has a nice oaky note. Chill slightly. Advertisement Enjoy with: Pork medallions in a cream sauce. Star rating: **** Black Tower Club Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (ABV 12%) 5 Currently €10 at SuperValu outlets Advertisement Grape: Sauvignon Blanc FRESH and zippy Sauvignon Blanc from the cool climate Palatinate region in southwest With a light lemon/lime colour when poured, it has satisfying aromatics of cut grass, stone fruit and a wisp of minerality. The light but pleasing palate has balanced acidity, with notes of passion fruit and grapefruit. Reasonable length. Advertisement Enjoy with: Salads, grilled seafood. Star rating: *** THIS WEEK'S BARGAIN BOTTLE OUR promise is to bring Irish Sun wine lovers a taste-tested wine each weekend for under a tenner. The cost of glass, packaging, labelling and transport have sky-rocketed in recent years. Advertisement So, finding excellent value tipples is getting harder - but we have sourced some great wines and will bring you a super sipper recommendation every weekend. Pays d'Oc Gris Rosé 2022 (ABV 12%) 5 Currently €7.99 @ Lidl outlets Grape: Grenache Advertisement WE are gearing up for our eagerly-awaited Rosé fortnight in June, and as samples have begun to arrive for tasting, I came across the super Summer sipper. A pale pink, with characteristic Grenache aromas of soft red fruits on the nose. The palate is clean and nicely crisp, with good acidity and a wisp of raspberry and strawberry notes on a very satisfying finish. Enjoy with: Cold meats, or salads at your barbie. Advertisement Star rating: ***