Domaine Cantaussels 2013, Cabernet Sauvignon, Côtes de Thongue, France
€10
The Bonfils family owns this estate and a whole lot more around the Languedoc. In fact they are the largest private vineyard owners in the region. I counted seventeen Chateaux on their website, plus another three in Bordeaux. The Languedoc produces huge quantities of very cheap wine, but Bonfils has never tried to compete at this end of the market. It means their wine usually cost €10-€15 a bottle and sometimes more, but they are generally worth it and sound value for money.
I met Laurent Bonfils at a fair recently; he spent the entire conversation bemoaning the state of his beloved Narbonne rugby team, currently languishing in the relegation zone of the Pro2 division. As for the wine, the Côtes de Thongue is a smallish wine region between Pézenas and Béziers, with around fifty producers. Unusually for the Languedoc, it produces very decent Cabernet Sauvignon, including this fine example with its ripe fleshy red fruits and lightly tannic finish. Great everyday drinking at €10 from Dunnes Stores.
Galway Hooker Irish Stout
€2.99-€3.50 for a 500ml bottle. 4.5%
Cousins Aidan Murphy and Ronan Brennan set up Galway Hooker back in 2006, making them old hands in the Irish craft-brewing scene. Their Pale Ale could almost be considered a classic at this stage. It is dangerously moreish, refreshing yet full of complex flavours, a beer that is guaranteed to convert any remaining doubters to craft beer. But today we look at their stout, introduced last year. It is a classic Irish stout, dry but balanced by a subtle vanilla sweetness.
Medium-bodied with cappuccino and light toasty malt, it has instant appeal. Another classic in the making? According to Aidan, it is going well, although the Pale Ale is still by far the biggest seller. "Guinness drinkers are more used to the creamy nitro head", he says "and find the carbonated beer a little different at first. But this way you get more flavour."
