This comparison of one of the world's most celebrated varieties, from three entirely different countries / states, is condensed from a couple of generic wine tastings held in Dublin recently. I've narrowed the Pinot talk down to 25 flavoursome recommendations, many of them available in Ireland, the UK and the US; and some brief info about the regions featured.
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09 August 2025
22 June 2025
California: random red and white.
From tablascreek.com
My pick from a recent California Wine tasting in Dublin of half-a-dozen random reds and a white made from varieties such as Zinfandel, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Grenache noir and blanc and Viognier. This is the first of a few posts highlighting California red and white wines available in Ireland and the UK.
06 June 2025
Roussillon: Domaine of the Bee, England: Hart of Gold.
Justin and Amanda Howard-Sneyd in their 80+ year-old La Roque Carignan vineyard.
What has the Roussillon, in deepest Catalan France, got to do with English bubbly, you may be wondering? Well, it's the same couple behind Domaine of the Bee, kickstarted in 2004 with the purchase of some old vine plots near Maury (which is Occitan but never mind), and Hart of Gold, an upmarket English sparkling launched with the 2010 vintage.
08 May 2025
Australian sparkling wine: Arras, Jansz, Blue Pyrenees.
Image from houseofarras.com.au.
House of Arras - Tasmania.
Established in 1995, Arras produces some of Australia's finest (and dearest) traditional method sparkling made under the watchful eye of founder winemaker Ed Carr. The story goes that Ed went to cool-climate Tasmania in 1988 to look for suitable sites... Nowadays, blocks of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are selected from six regions 'with varying terroir from inland to coastal, and warm/dry to cool/wet.'
14 April 2025
Australia: 10 Shiraz, Grenache (etc.) reds.
d'Arenberg - McLaren Vale, South Australia.
The Osborn family has farmed vineyards in the McLaren Vale since 1912, and chief winemaker Chester has been running the operation for over 40 years. Their eccentric and wide range is sourced from over 25 varieties including many Mediterranean and other French, Spanish and Italian grapes, some of which are picked from very old bush vines.
Labels:
Australian Pyrenees,
Heathcote,
McLaren Vale
14 February 2025
Australia & New Zealand: 12 Rieslings.
This is the first of a few 'themed' posts featuring my favourites from a recent Australia and New Zealand wine tasting in Dublin.
Why not start with a dozen classy white wines made from the ultimate wine-geek variety Riesling - does it now figure on people's wine shopping lists, or is everyone still obsessed with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio? If it's the latter, you're missing out.
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