White
Chateau La Graviere Entre-DeuxMers 1998 (SuperValu, Kilrush; Peggy Starr, Kilkee; Ennis Gourmet, Ennis or direct from Doonbeg Wine Imports, £6.50-£6.99; restaurants include Garvello's, Ennis; Danny Boland's, Cross; Gold Lion, Claremorris; O'Loughlins, Miltown Malbay). A white Bordeaux with tingling freshness and creamy smoothness, at an easy price.
Lugana San Benedetto, Zenato, 1999 (Whitethorn wine list, £13.80; also in Brown Thomas, Grafton Street; Ragazzi, Dalkey; Green Onion, Limerick; Neptune, Bettystown. Retail outlets include Searsons, Monkstown; Layden Fine Wines, Middle Abbey Street; Michael's Wines, Mount Merrion; On the Grapevine, Dalkey; Vineyard, Galway; DeVine Wines, Letterkenny, usually about £7.95). See Bottle of the Week.
Hugel Alsace Pinot Blanc, Cuvee Les Amours, 1996/7 (Dromoland wine list, £19; available in many other restaurants; retail outlets include Vintry, Rathgar; McCabes, Blackrock and Foxrock; Vineyard, Galway; Feeneys, Salthill, usually about £8.50). Quiet on the nose, but super on the palate. Ample fruit and zesty acidity marry happily in this round, smiling summer white which suits a whole buffet load of light food.
Red
Can Vendrell, Penedes, Albet I Noya, 1997 (Domaine wine list, £11.50; Superquinn and many other retail outlets, £6.99-£7.99, or contact Mary Pawle Wines, tel: 064-41443). A vibrant Spanish red with real personality, from an all-organic producer.
Quinta de Ribeirinho Bairrada, Luis Pato, 1996 (Whitethorn wine list, £13.60; also in The Phoenix, Keel near Castlemayne. Retail outlets include Karwigs, Carrigaline, McCambridges, Galway, usually about £7.95.) Terrific to discover that the brilliant Portuguese winemaker Luis Pato - whose memorable reds at over £20 I've raved about before - also makes this deliciously affordable wine. Soft and fleshy, with a juicy, bitter-cherry bite. Give it food.
Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses, Priorat, 1996 (Egan's, £15; 1997 also on sale in Mitchells, Kildare Street and Glasthule; Gourmet Gallery, Rathmines; On the Grapevine, Dalkey; Karwigs, Carrigaline, McCambridges, Galway, or direct from Approach Trade Ireland, Carrick-on-Suir; 1993 in Dromoland, £31.50). Layered, concentrated, polished and very, very alluring, this March Bottle of the Week comes from one of the biggest new-generation names in Spanish wine - the chap who vowed, with his top wine L'Ermita, to give Spain a Petrus.