Background to Red Nose Wine

Gary Gubbins started his career as an engineer. After stints living in Paris and further south in Provence, he embarked on his most ambitious project, to create Red Nose Wine, his warehouse in Clonmel twinned with ecommerce site, rednosewine.com. Read more about Gary in my profile piece, Introjuicing: Red Nose Wine.

Gary is squarely focused on family run vineyards where the wines reflect the land they come from and the people who make them.

Here are three good examples.

1. Château Margüi Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC, 2007 €18

This life of this wine shares similarities with the Red Nose Wine story. The Provence vineyard had fallen into disrepair in the 1970s. In 2000, Philippe Guillanton, then CEO of Yahoo in France, decided to change tack and resurrect the 1,100 hectare derelict estate. Richly flavoured, bursting with dark berries, vanilla, coffee and liquorice. Delicious.

With food? BBQ, cheese or sip on its own and meditate on the complex layers of flavour.

2. Moulin de Gassac “Albaran” Languedoc, 2008 €12

From the producers of the Grand Cru of the Languedoc, “Mas de Daumas Gassac” where the estate is organically farmed and grapes handpicked.  A blend of Cabernet, Mourvèdre and Syrah, and full of bright red berries and soft silky tannins with just a pinch of spice. Gorgeous gumption in a glass.

With food? Perfect with lamb.

3. Mas de Daumas Gassac White 2008 – €38

The Grand Cru itself, albeit the white, made from Viognier, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Chenin Blanc and a host of other lesser known grapes. Gorgeous aromatics lead to a rich buttery tropical flavours. This is a white which will reward 20 minutes in a decanter to fully open up. A true superstar of the south.

With food? It’s so versatile it could go with anything from wine’s foodmatching nemesis, Asparagus to goat’s cheese or fruit tarts.

All wines available from Red Nose Wine in Clonmel, some good independents and online at www.rednosewine.com