March 2012 Fine Wine Bin End Sale

We have poked around the cellar and uncovered bottles of varying age, size, origin and style - and to be very honest, all of them delicious. Once we round them all up, we take a look at them and think what we'd like to drink ourselves - and then we discount them hugely - by anywhere from 25% to 70%. Every year we always get a few of you coming back to us saying "that was delicious, do you have any more...?" - the simple answer in most instances is "No" - this is it, the single opportunity to pick up these wines at this price, and as the saying goes, "when they're gone, they're gone".

So what do we have to tempt you? Well, firstly, the majority of these are all drinking really nicely now - we have made an effort to focus on wines that you can begin to enjoy the minute they arrive. Secondly, we have tried to offer a broad range of styles and countries - we could have done all Bordeaux, but there are those of you (many, in fact) who also like to try something a little different, and this is a great opportunity. So what would I buy?

- 1999 St. Cosme Cote Rotie @ €75 - in my opinion an absolute bargain. Louis Barroul told me a while back that he only had 6 of these left in his cellar - and he owns the place! If he's reading this Blog, he can pick up another three!

- 2002 Chinons from Bernard Baudry starting @ €18 - two of his top Cuvees from a great vintage, matured for 10 years - you can't ask for much more!

- 1999 Braida Bricco dell Uccellone @ €35 - modernist Barbera from a great producer and drinking beautifully now.

- 1999 Mastroberardino Taurasi Riserva @ €31 - raved about by Jancis Robinson and singled out as one of the best examples of Aglianico around

- 2003 Pagodes de COS Magnums @ €110 - Parker released his final scores of the Bordeaux 2009 wines in the last few hours. He previously raved about Cos 2003, and has also done so about the 2009, making it effectively disappear from the market. This is the "baby" version of the 2003 - very impressive now.

- 1990 Huet le Mont Moelleux 1ere Trie @ €80 - last week saw Noel Pinguet leave the iconic Loire winery, Huet. Will amazing sweet wines like this ever be made again? A stunning wine - and still a baby!

- 1990 Raymond Lafon Sauternes @ €80 - same price, same year, different style. From the former manager of Yquem, this is complex, mature, decadent Sauternes - they practise even lower yields than Yquem!

- 2006 Meo Camuzet Marsanny @ €26 - there are plenty of heavy hitting Burgundies in there, but in terms of price/quality this is a real deal - often overlooked, but wonderful crunchy, lively Pinot.

- 2003 Moulin St. Georges Saint Emilion Grand Cru @ €48 - across the road from Ausone and with the same owner - but only about €1,000 a bottle cheaper...

- 1996 Peter Lehmann "Mentor" Shiraz @ €35 - we don't see enough aged Shiraz around, it doesn't last long enough! This is a real treat.

- 2000 Brundlmayer Riesling Zobinger Heilegenstein Trockenbeerenauslese Halves @ €40 - I just checked on-line and the average price for this comes up as €95! I'm a big dessert wine fan and this is delicious stuff.

- 2003 Istenic Prestige Brut @ €24 - if this was "Champagne" it would all be gone. Made by the country's best producer (and highly regarded internationally), this is a bargain based on place of production rather than quality. A previous Wine of the Week in the Irish Times too!

- Plenty of "treat" wines as well - Masseto 1994 @ €180, Meo Camuzet NSG 1er Cru Meurgers from the great 2005 vintage @ €95, Pape Clement 2004 @ €55

You can download the offer here: March 2012 Fine Wine Bin End Sale