Château Rives-Blanques Mauzac 2004, Limoux; Carrick Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Margaret River; and Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2004, Canberra District.
Château Rives-Blanques Mauzac 2004, Limoux, 13.5%, €19.99Former Kinsale resident Caryl Panman is rightly proud of this attractive golden-coloured wine made entirely from Mauzac, a grape more commonly associated with the local sparkler, Blanquette de Limoux. Clean and smooth apple notes with a moody buttery richness underpinned by good acidity. From: Thomas's Deli, Foxrock, D18; Claudio's, Market Arcade, South Great George's Street, D2; Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street, D2.
Carrick Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Margaret River, 14%, €13.99 (two for €20)Gerard Hughes from Clontarf in Dublin has worked hard to realise his dream of owning a vineyard in Western Australia. His 2004 Cabernet, along with his 2004 Shiraz, is a marked step up on his first wines, with good balance, vivid fruit and an honest, compact feel. From: O'Briens, branches.
Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2004, Canberra District, 14%, €22.99Clonakilla is the name of the Co Clare farm of the father of the winemaker Tim Kirk; like Gerard Hughes of Carrick Hill, he displays his Irish connection with a Celtic motif on his label. And, like his stunning Shiraz Viognier, Kirk's pure Shiraz is a model of restraint, intensity, elegance and class - unfortunately, not the most Irish of characteristics. From: Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer Street, D2; 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin; Le Caveau, Kilkenny; Cellars the Big Wine Warehouse, Naas Road, D22; Redmonds, Ranelagh, D6; Eno Wines, IFSC, D1, and Monkstown, Co Dublin.